BX8949  .D746  1909 

Dripps,  Joseph  Frederic, 

1844-1914. 

History  of   the   First 

Presbyterian  church   in 

Germantown   / 


LIBRARY  OF  THE  THEOLOGICAL   SEMINARY 
PRINCETON,    N.J. 


Purchased  by   the 
Mrs.    Robert   Lenox  Kennedy   Church   History 
Fund. 

Dec.    5,     1929. 


LIBRARY  OF  PRINCETON 


AUG     3  2006 


THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY 


HISTORY 

/$^;' 
^ 

■    ^    1D29 

OP    THE 

FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 


IN 


GERMANTOWN 


By  rev.  J.  FREDERICK  D5fl 

PASTOR,    1870-1830. 


t}mmm  prince 


Aiu     3  2Cn5 


THEOLOGICAL  SEMIN 


THE   CENTENNIAL   SERVICES 
THE  PRESENT  CHURCH  ORGANIZATIONS 


GERMANTOWN,    OCTOBER.   1909 


PRESS   OP 

ALLEN,  LANE  *   SCOTT, 

PHILADELPHIA. 


INDEX 


:  wa,  William.  99,  101 

ndix .    218 

Assistant  Miiiisters.  . 

-  ■  2,34,37,  55,  i2J 

' 32 

radford,  Rev.  Thomas  '  45 

v.'^Unnial  Celebration. .  zl,  lid,  l3S 

v".-..rennial  Committees.  .  8,  9 

Centennial  Xd.-JIHM    PRB.^ENT  CHURCH_    BUILDIN(i(:^2l7 

Charters 

■JhrK.t.ian  Endeavor  Society. 

Church  Buildin: 

Church  Officers  . .    

Dripps,  Rev.  Dr.  J.  Frederics 

Hunn,  Rev.  Thomas. 

:-']r-'i   List  of 

£■  Gi.uan,  Rev.  Charles  R 

Germantown.  . 

German  Refomitv;  -  ..unn. 

Henry,  Rev.  Dr.  Alexander. . 

Henry,  T.  Charlton 

History  of  the  Churc:. 

Jennings,  Rev.  Dr.  William  Beatty. .  . 

Junkin,  Rev.  Dr.  George 

Knox,  Rev.  Dr.  James  H.  ,»iit.u^ 

Market  Square  Chtirch 

Membership,  List  oi. 


247,259 

!  5.237 

128 

7 

59, 

!.0!    !40 

...:>,  f^    . 

16,  124, 

139,310 

,   .    .  J'}.    1:^ 

55, 

138.  100 

.^  I ,  i  -•;  i 

24,  125 

40 

55 

59 

•70 

.V/AQAWVe^    WYr 


i 

.1 


ii 


* 


INDEX 


PAGB 

Adamson,  William 99,  101 

Appendix 218 

Assistant  Ministers 5 

Blair,  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel 12,  34,  37,  55.  123 

Bourne,  Rev.  George 32 

Bradford,  Rev.  Thomas  B 45 

Centennial  Celebration 27,  133,  135 

Centennial  Committees 8,9 

Centennial  Addresses 140-217 

Charters 247,  259 

Christian  Endeavor  Society 1 15,  23  7 

Church  Building 28,  62,  128 

Church  Officers 7 

Dripps»  Rev.  Dr.  J.  Frederick 3,  59,  101,  140 

Dunn,  Rev.  Thomas 25,  31 

Elders,  List  of 5,6,7 

Erdman,  Rev.  Charles  R 116,  124,  139,  210 

Germantown 18,  57 

German  Reformed  Church 30,  59 

Henry,  Rev.  Dr.  Alexander 55,  138,  199 

Henry,  T.  Charlton 53 

History  of  the  Church 11,  134 

Jennings,  Rev.  Dr.  William  Beatty 124,  125 

Junkin,  Rev.  Dr.  George 40 

Knox,  Rev.  Dr.  James  H.  Mason 49,  55 

Market  Square  Church 59 

Membership,  List  of 270 


11  INDEX. 


PAGE 

Memorial  Window 52 

Men's  Association 75,  126,  232 

Miller,  Joseph 23 

Missionary  Church-members 10 

Neill,  Rev.  Dr.  William 16,  38,  42,  55 

Nourse,  Rev.  James 40 

Pastoral  Aid  Society 76,  218 

Pastors,  List  of 5 

Preface ; 3 

Pulaskiville  Mission 88,  93,  1 1 1 

Richards,  Rev.  Dr.  William  R 136,  149 

Roberdeau,  Isaac ■. 36 

Rooker,  Rev.  James 39 

Sessional  Union 99 

Somerville  Mission 90,  94,  127,  244 

Stewart,  Rev.  Dr.  George  B 137,  178 

Subscription  Plan 69 

Sunday  School 39,  74,  178,  240 

Trustees,  List  of 7 

Tustin,  Rev.  Dr.  Septimus 45 

Van  Dyke,  Rev.  Dr.  Henry  Jackson 47 

Van  Dyke,  Rev.  Dr.  Henry 48,  138,  186 

Wakefield  Church 99 

Westside  Church,  see  "Pulaskiville  Mission" 00 

Women's  Work,  see  "Pastoral  Aid  Society" 00 

Wood,  Rev.  Dr.  Charles 107,  124,  136,  166 

Y.  M.  C.  A.  of  Germantown 101 


PREFACE. 


When  the  Committee  on  the  Centennial  of  the  First 
Presb3rterian  Church  in  Germantown  determined  to  pub- 
lish a  volimie  commemorative  of  the  occasion,  it  turned 
at  once  to  the  Reverend  J.  Frederick  Dripps,  D.  D.,  as  the 
one  man  best  qualified  to  write  the  history  and  edit  the 
book. 

Dr.  Dripps  was  minister  of  the  Church,  the  eleventh  in 
the  line  of  ministers,  for  the  decade  1870-1880.  During 
his  ministry  the  main  body  of  the  present  church  build- 
ing, which  stands  as  a  monimient  to  his  zeal  and  the 
generosity  of  the  people  of  his  day,  was  erected. 

Dr.  Dripps  also  wrote  the  first  history  of  the  Church 
ever  published.  For  this  he  had  imusual  opportunities. 
He  was  in  touch  with  survivors  of  1809,  the  year  of  the 
Church's  beginning,  and  had  access  to  manuscripts  of 
that  time,  which  are  no  longer  in  existence.  He  was 
personally  acquainted  with  many  of  those  active  in  the 
Church  during  the  following  years.  And  more  recently, 
since  his  own  ministry  closed,  his  relation  with  the  Chtu-ch 
has  never  been  other  than  intimate  and  deHghtfiil.  He 
has  had  part  in  the  installation  of  every  minister  since 
his  own  term  of  service  closed,  and  to  each  in  turn  has 
proved  himself  a  faithful  friend. 

(3) 


THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 


For  all  these  reasons  the  Centennial  Committee  has 
asked  Dr.  Dripps  to  prepare  the  history  which  follows, 
and  to  edit  this  volume. 

An  especially  pleasant  feature  of  Dr.  Dripps'  connection 
with  the  Centennial  Celebration  is,  that  the  date  coin- 
cides with  the  fortieth  anniversary  of  his  own  coming  to 
Germantown  and  to  this  Church,  in  1869. 

W.  Beatty  Jennings, 
Chairman  of  the  Centennial  Committee. 


IN    GERMANTOWN. 


PASTORS  OF  THE  CHURCH 

The   Reverend  Thomas  Dunn Pastor,  1812-1815 

George  Bourne Pastor,  1816-1818 

James  Rooker Pastor,  1819-1828 

James  Nourse Stated  Supply,  1829-1830 

George  Junkin,  D.D Stated  Supply,  l^ZQ-l?>Z\ 

William  Neill,  D.D Pastor,  1831-1842 

Thomas  B.  Bradford Pa^/or,  1842-1850 

Septimus    Tustin,  D.D Pastor,  1850-1852 

Henry  Jackson  Van  Dyke,  D.D.  .Pa5/or,  1852-1853 

Jas.  H.  Mason  Knox,  D.D Pastor,  1853-1869 

J.  Frederick  Dripps,  D.D Pastor,  1870-1880 

William  J.  Chichester,  D.D Pas/or,  1880-1885 

Charles  Wood,  D.D Pastor,  1885-1897 

Charles  R.  Erdman Pastor,  1897-1906 

W.  Beatty  Jennings,  D.D Pastor,  1906- 

ASSISTANT  MINISTERS 

The   Reverend  John  Calhoun 1892-1896 

David  DeF.  Burrell 1901-1902 

Walter  C.  Erdman 1902-1904 

John  A.  McSporran 1904-1906 

Joseph  B.  C.  Mackie 1907-1909 

Benjamin  F.  Farber 1909- 

ELDERS 

CHOSEN  AT  ORGANIZATION  OF  CHURCH 

Samuel  Blair Installed  October  26,  1812 

Joseph  Miller "  "  "        " 

Henry  Bruner "  " 

William  Turnbull *'  " 


THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 


ELDERS  CHOSEN  SINCE  ORGANIZATION 

Term  of  Service 

Peter  Bechtel 1828-1842 

William  D.   Howard 1835-1838 

Jacob  Rittenhouse 183S-1853 

Jacob  Whartenby 1835-1854 

Matthias  R.  Miller 1835-1853 

Martin  Weaver 1836-1868 

Joseph  B.  Mitchell 1853-1868 

Joseph  W.  Parkes 1853-1882* 

Archibald  McIntyre 1858-1868* 

Enoch  Taylor 1858-1888 

T.  Charlton  Henry 1858-1890 

William  Adamson 1871-1874* 

Thomas  MacKellar 1871-1900 

Edward  L.  Wilson 1874-1887* 

Charles  M.  Lukens 1876-1900 

Samuel  G.  Dennisson 1887- 

Thomas  Firth  Jones 1887-1892* 

Edwin  F.  Partridge 1889-1897 

Franklin  L.  Sheppard 1889- 

WlLLIAM    SiDEBOTTOM 1889- 

Henry  Martyn  Lewis 1894-1906 

William  Morris  Longstreth 1894- 

Harry  Leonard  Graham 1894-1897* 

James  A.  Elliott 1901-1903 

John  J.  Henry 1901- 

Charles  H.  Scott 1901- 

Ashbel  Welch 1901- 

James  S.  McCracken 1908- 

Henry  T.  Shillingford 1908- 

WiLLiAM  R.  Young 1908- 

Arthur  N.  Starin 1908- 

Jacob  C.  Bockius 1908- 

Melvin  H.  Harrington 1908- 

*  Service  terminated  by  dismissal  to  other  churches. 


IN    GERMANTOWN. 


OFFICERS  OF  THE  CHURCH 


MINISTER 

Rev.  W.  Beatty  Jennings,  D.D. 

ASSISTANT  MINISTER 
Rev.  Benjamin  F.  Farber. 

ELDERS 

Samuel  G.  Dennisson,  Ashbel  Welch, 

Franklin  L.  Sheppard,  James   S.   McCracken, 

William  Sidebottom,  Henry  T.   Shillingford, 

William  Morris  Longstreth,        William   R.  Young, 
John  J.  Henry,  Arthur  N.  Starin, 

Charles  H.  Scott,  Jacob   C.  Bockius, 

Melvin  H.   Harrington. 
Clerk  of  Session:   Samuel  G.   Dennisson. 

BOARD  OF  TRUSTEES 

Samuel  G.   Dennisson,  William   R.  Young, 

Bayard  Henry,  John  F.   Simons, 

Charlton  H.   Royal,  Edwin   H.  Chapman, 

Benjamin  F.  Mechling,  William  L.   McLean, 

Frank  Leake,  William  J.  McLaughlin, 

Alexander  Martin,  Edward  Hutchinson. 

PRESIDENT  SECRETARY 

Frank  Leake.  Bayard   Henry. 

TREASURER  ASSISTANT  TREASURER 

Samuel  G.  Dennisson,  William  R.  Young. 

CHAIRMAN.  OF  PEW  COMMITTEE 

Edwin  H.  Chapman. 

CHAIRMAN  OF  CHURCH  PROPERTY  COMMITTEE 

Benjamin  F.  Mechling. 

CHAIRMAN  OF  FINANCE  COMMITTEE 

William  M.  Longstreth. 

PARISH  VISITOR  ORGANIST  AND  CHOIR  MASTER 

Mrs.  Caroline  D.  Scott.  Stanley  Addicks. 

SEXTON 
William  R.  Homiller. 


THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 


CENTENNIAL  COMMITTEE 
Rev.  W.  Beatty  Jennings,  D.D.,  Chairman. 


Gilbert  S.  Galbraith. 
William  J.  Latta. 
Frank  Leake. 
Horace  F.  McCann. 
Ashbel  Welch. 
Harry  O.  Chapman. 
John  J.  Henry. 
Franklin  L.  Sheppard. 


Jacob  C.  Bockius. 

William  R.  Young. 

William  L.  McLean. 

Samuel  G.  Dennisson. 

John  F.  Simons. 

Alexander  Martin. 

Bayard  Henry. 

Rev.  J.  Frederick  Dripps,  D.D. 


Horace  F 
Ashbel  Welch. 
Franklin  L.  Sheppard 


HISTORICAL  COMMITTEE 

McCann.  John  F.  Simons. 


Frank  Leake. 

Rev.  J.  Frederick  Dripps,  D.D. 


John  J.  Henry, 
Alexander  Martin. 


FINANCE  COMMITTEE 

William  J.  Latta. 
Harry  O.  Chapman. 
William  L.  McLean. 


PROGRAM  COMMITTEE 
Bayard  Henry.  Samuel  G.  Dennisson. 

William  R.  Young.  Jacob  C.  Bockius. 

Gilbert  S.  Galbraith.  William  J.  McLaughlin. 

Rev.  W.  B.  Jennings,  D.D. 


RECEPTION  COMMITTEE 
Bayard  Henry,  Chairman. 


Samuel  G.  Dennisson. 
William  M.  Longstreth. 
Ashbel  Welch, 
Frank  Leake. 
Alexander  Martin. 
William  L  McLean. 
William  J.  McLaughlin. 
William  J.  Latta. 


Gilbert  S.  Galbraith. 
Jacob  C.  Bockius. 
John  J.    Henry. 
Norman  M.  MacLeod. 
Alfred  M.     North. 
Franklin  L.  Sheppard. 
William  Sidebottom. 
George  E.    Tilge. 


Wilson    Woods. 


IN    GERMANTOWN. 


WOMEN'S  SOCIAL  RECEPTION  COMMITTEE 


Mrs.  W.  B.  Jennings.  Miss 

Mrs.  Enoch  Taylor.  Miss 

Mrs.  B.  F.  Mechling.  Mrs. 

Mrs.  W.  M.  Longstreth.  Mrs. 

Mrs.  G.  S.  Galbraith.  Miss 

Mrs.  Frank  Leake.  Mrs. 

Mrs.  William  Sketchley.  Mrs. 

Mrs.  William  C.  Hesse.  Mrs. 

Mrs.  E.  C.  Cutler.  Mrs. 

Mrs.  George  E.  Tilge.  Mrs. 

Miss  M.  R.  Heyl.  Mrs. 
Mrs.  William  M.  Davison,  Jr.      Mrs. 

Mrs.  Samuel  Thompson,  Jr.  Mrs. 

Miss  Bessie  Garrett.  Mrs. 

Miss  Helen  Wilkinson.  Mrs. 

Miss  Valeria  Penrose.  Mrs. 

Mrs.  Chas.  A.  Spiegel.  Mrs. 

Mrs.  Thos.  Leiper  Hodge.  Mrs. 


Margaret  Williams. 
Katherine  Macintosh. 
George  Lewis  Smith. 
George  Beck. 
Sue  Carson. 
Alexander  Martin. 
John  F.  Simons. 
Edwin  H.  Chapman. 
William  L.  McLean. 
William  J.  McLaughlin. 
Edw.  Hutchinson. 
William  Sidebottom. 
J.  J.  Henry. 
Ashbel  Welch. 
Jas.  S.  McCracken. 
H.  T.  Shillingford. 
Arthur  N.  Starin. 

J.   C.   BOCKIUS. 


10        THE  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH  IN  GERMANTOWN. 


MEMBERS  OF  THE  CHURCH 
Serving  in  Connection  with  the  Different  Boards 


MISSIONARY  ALLIANCE 

Mr.   John   DeR.   Allison,  Boma,  Congo  Free   State,    W.  C.  Africa 
Mrs.  John  DeR.  Allison,  Boma,  Congo  Free  State,  W.  C.  Africa. 

AMERICAN  BOARD  OF  FOREIGN  MISSIONS 
Miss  Lucile  Foreman Aintab,  Turkey. 

PRESBYTERIAN  BOARD  OF  FOREIGN  MISSIONS 

Mrs.  Henry  Foreman Jhansi,  India. 

Miss  Christine  Cameron Taiku,  Korea. 

Mrs.  Lillie  E.  Orbison Lahore,  India. 

Miss  Matilda  London Tokio,  Japan. 

INTERNATIONAL  COMMITTEE,  Y.  M.  C.  A. 

Mr.  George  Gleason Osaka,  Japan. 

Mrs.  George  Gleason Osaka,  Japan. 

Miss  Mabel  S.  Jones Shanghai,  China. 

DUTCH  REFORMED  BOARD. 

Dr.  Charles  S.  G.  Mylrae Bahrein,   Arabia. 

Mrs.  Charles  S.  G.  Mylrae Bahrein,   Arabia. 


HISTORY 


OF    THE 


FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

IN  GERMANTOWN 


1809-1909 


Some  thirty-seven  years  ago,  in  1872,  when  the  present 
writer  prepared  for  pubHcation  the  first  printed  history 
of  this  Church,  he  naturally  called  especial  attention  to 
the  title  by  which  it  was  known  in  the  earlier  of  its  two 
charters,  namely,  *'The  English  Presbyterian  Church  in 
Germantown."  The  Church  was  EngHsh  but  the  town 
was  German.  The  second  of  these  two  elements  was  at 
once  felt  to  be  the  more  striking  and  unusual,  for  English 
towns  are  a  matter  of  course  in  reading  of  Colonial  days, 
but  it  is  something  new  to  find  there  a  "German  Town," 
and  still  more  interesting  when  this  proves  to  be  the  first 
and  most  prominent  of  all  such  ** German  Towns"  in 
America.  On  this  account,  that  history  of  1872  gave  a 
somewhat  full  recognition  to  the  German  element,  while 

(11) 


12  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

the  English  element  was  rather  taken  for  granted.  The 
same  course  was  taken  in  the  enlarged  edition  prepared 
by  the  same  writer  for  publication  in  1880. 

In  the  present  sketch  he  finds  it  desirable,  however,  to 
give  distinct  recognition  to  each  of  the  two  elements, 
EngHsh  as  well  as  German,  lest  with  the  increasing 
remoteness  of  those  earlier  days,  their  true  balance  and 
proportion  may  be  lost. 

In  this  Colony,  the  EngHsh  had  settled  among  the 
Indians,  and  the  Germans  among  the  English,  and  finally 
the  EngHsh  came  from  every  side  into  the  German 
town. 

It  was  these  people  of  English  stock  who  led  in  the 
movement  for  an  English  Church,  as  may  be  seen  by  a 
glance  at  the  names  of  the  thirty-six  pew-holders  who 
applied  for  the  charter,  somewhat  later  on.  There  was 
indeed  a  marked  concurrence  in  that  movement  on  the 
part  of  young  people  from  the  German  Church  and  of  Ger- 
man stock,  but  who  spoke  only  the  English  language. 
That  will  presently  be  recognized  here,  as  it  has  been 
in  the  previous  histories  already  mentioned.  But  the 
movement  itself  was  primarily  English ;  or  to  be  still  more 
definite,  Presbyterianism  in  this  locality,  as  elsewhere  in 
the  Colony,  was  mainly  under  Scotch-Irish  influence  and 
leadership. 

THE  REVEREND  SAMUEL  BLAIR,  D.D.,  may  be  taken  as 
summing  up  in  himself  personally  this  group  of  facts. 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  13 


Among  the  springs  to  which  we  can  trace  back  our  life 
as  a  Presbyterian  Church,  none  is  earHer  in  time,  or  more 
influential  in  character,  than  that  which  may  be  foimd  in 
this  man  and  his  home. 

He  was  himself  of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  being  in  fact 
the  son  of  that  other  Reverend  Dr.  Samuel  Blair,  who  was 
so  widely  known  for  active  service  in  the  Colonial  Church. 
In  fact,  the  name  of  *'  Rev.  Dr.  Blair"  was  a  very  familiar 
one,  in  those  days.  His  father,  his  uncle  and  his  cousin, 
each  was  a  **Rev.  Dr.  Blair."  His  father  was  born  in 
1712,  and  studied  imder  Dr.  Tennant  at  the  ''Log  Col- 
lege" which  has  become  Princeton  University.  When 
settled  as  a  pastor,  he  conducted  a  Seminary  at  which  was 
trained  Dr.  Samuel  Davies,  another  of  the  greatest  men 
in  our  Church.  President  Finley  of  Princeton  said  of  the 
senior  Dr.  Blair,  **  He  was  the  spiritual  father  of  great 
numbers."  He  was  very  prominent  in  the  great  revivals 
of  that  time,  and  was  also  an  influential  Trustee  of  Prince- 
ton College. 

His  son  and  namesake,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  Blair  with 
whom  we  are  at  present  concerned,  was  born  in  1741,  at 
the  manse  in  Fagg's  Manor,  Chester  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania. When  he  was  but  ten  years  old,  his  father  died 
at  the  early  age  of  thirty-nine,  as  the  result  of  overwork 
and  exposure  to  inclement  weather,  in  his  service  to 
Princeton.  The  son  graduated  at  Princeton  in  1760, 
aged  1 9 ;  and  was  a  tutor  in  the  College  for  the  next  three 
years. 


14  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

In  1766,  at  the  age  of  twenty-five,  he  became  the  col- 
league of  Dr.  Sewall,  in  the  historic  Old  South  Church 
at  Boston.  While  there,  he  was  elected  to  the  Presidency 
of  Princeton  College  by  what  is  said  to  have  been  a  unani- 
mous vote. 

There  was  no  higher  position  in  the  Pastorate,  than  that 
which  he  already  held,  and  no  other  position  in  the  service 
of  his  Church,  more  honorable  than  this  which  was  now 
offered  him.  In  the  judgment  of  his  greatest  contempo- 
raries, this  yoimg  man  stood  high.  But  he  was  as  modest 
as  he  was  capable,  and  he  believed  that  an  older  man, 
and  one  more  widely  known  on  the  other  side  of  the 
ocean,  would  be  in  better  position  to  serve  the  College. 

Such  a  man  was  Dr.  John  Witherspoon,  in  whose  favor 
Dr.  Blair  resigned  the  Presidency,  and  who  vindicated 
Dr.  Blair's  judgment  by  his  eminent  services,  not  only  to 
Princeton,  but  to  the  whole  country,  as  a  signer  of  the 
Declaration  of  Independence,  a  Congressman  from  New 
Jersey  throughout  the  Revolutionary  War,  and  in  various 
other  capacities. 

Dr.  Blair  continued,  therefore,  in  his  Pastorate  of  the 
Old  South  Church  tmtil,  not  long  afterward,  he  was  com- 
pelled by  permanent  and  increasing  ill  health  to  resign. 
He  had  been  shipwrecked  at  night  on  the  way  to  Boston, 
losing  his  books  and  manuscripts,  and  narrowly  escaping 
with  his  life.  From  his  exposure  on  this  occasion  he 
never  really  recovered.  He  struggled  on  for  three  years, 
but  was  then  obliged  to  give  up  active  work.     We  read 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  J5 


of  his  having  "a  severe  illness,  which  it  was  thought  he 
could  not  possibly  It  is  no  wonder  that  he 

continued  to  be  ^v  .f  his  life.     We  in 

this  Church  hav^    .    ..      .^  .-'.  .'-at  it  was  a  life 

which  lasted  for  more  than  fifty  ye;.  r,  and  that  in 

spite  of  his  infirm  health  he  was  able  to  do  so  much  good 
work  in  ■  •  ■^^. 

Dr.  BU..  ^  ^  jiing  to  Germantown,  and  n*^    -^^    '  >art  of 
Ms  service  to  this  Church,  was  the  result  gi  rriage, 

September  24th,  1767,  to  Susanna  Shippen,  daughter  of 
the  eminent  physician,  Dr.  William  Shippen,  Sr.  Dr. 
Shippen  had  takeji^^  ^hPPP'^^/^^'^&F^W'  ^^^^*^^^^own 

death  m  1801.  His  equally  eminent  son.  Dr.  Wiiliam 
Shippen,  Jr.,  was  also  a  i,  as  were 

other  members  o-"    '  '     V    e - 

fore,  that  the  B. . ..     .     ...  : ^— r- 

man  town,  when  Dr.  Blair  left  Boston,  He  came  here  in 
1769  mtil  his  death  in   1818.     From  his 

twenty  ^.^-^i"  ui.c.^  nis  se».  enth  year,  therefore, 

he  lived  in  Germantown.  ;..-.  ..w.j.se  in  which  he  lived 
and  died  is  still  standing  on  the  southeast  comer  of  Ger- 
mantown Avenue  and  Walnut  Lane.  Five  childi'en  were 
bom  to  him  here,  one  of  whom  became  Mrs.  K  au 

and  another  Mrs.  Peirce,  their  husbands  being  s>  .u  .^nt 
Church  officers.  His  son,  Samuel  Blair,  Jr.,  wao  married 
and  had  seven  children  bom  to  him  here.  He  survived 
imtil  1859,  when  he  died  at  Bristol,  Pennsylvania. 


c^'o^^^  1 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  15 


of  his  having  "  a  severe  illness,  which  it  was  thought  he 
could  not  possibly  survive."  It  is  no  wonder  that  he 
continued  to  be  an  invalid  for  the  rest  of  his  life.  We  in 
this  Church  have  cause  to  be  thankful,  that  it  was  a  life 
which  lasted  for  more  than  fifty  years  longer,  and  that  in 
spite  of  his  infirm  health  he  was  able  to  do  so  much  good 
work  in  this  place. 

Dr.  Blair^s  coming  to  Germantown,  and  no  small  part  of 
his  service  to  this  Church,  was  the  result  of  his  marriage, 
September  24th,  1767,  to  Susanna  Shippen,  daughter  of 
the  eminent  physician,  Dr.  William  Shippen,  Sr.  Dr. 
Shippen  had  taken  up  his  own  residence  in  Germantown 
upon  his  marriage  in  1735,  and  here  continued  until  his 
death  in  1801.  His  equally  eminent  son.  Dr.  William 
Shippen,  Jr.,  was  also  a  resident  of  Germantown,  as  were 
other  members  of  the  family.  It  was  but  natural,  there- 
fore, that  the  B lairs  should  turn  their  eyes  toward  Ger- 
mantown, when  Dr.  Blair  left  Boston.  He  came  here  in 
1769  and  remained  tmtil  his  death  in  1818.  From  his 
twenty-eighth  until  his  seventy-seventh  year,  therefore, 
he  lived  in  Germantown.  The  house  in  which  he  lived 
and  died  is  still  standing  on  the  southeast  corner  of  Ger- 
mantown Avenue  and  Walnut  Lane.  Five  children  were 
bom  to  him  here,  one  of  whom  became  Mrs.  Roberdeau 
and  another  Mrs.  Peirce,  their  husbands  being  prominent 
Church  officers.  His  son,  Samuel  Blair,  Jr.,  was  married 
and  had  seven  children  born  to  him  here.  He  survived 
until  1859,  when  he  died  at  Bristol,  Pennsylvania. 


16  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

In  his  service  to  this  Church,  Dr.  Blair  had  the  great 
advantage  of  being  surrounded  by  a  large  circle  of  rela- 
tives and  connections,  and  the  still  greater  advantage  of 
having  for  his  wife  a  noble  woman  who  was  thoroughly  in 
sympathy  with  him,  and  was  able  to  render  him  most 
valuable  assistance.  From  that  day  to  the  present  time, 
the  Church  has  repeatedly  and  signally  been  favored  by 
just  such  a  combination  of  man  and  wife,  working  to- 
gether for  the  common  good.  Mrs.  Blair  survived  her 
husband  for  several  years,  and  continued  her  active  help 
until  her  own  death  in  1821. 

Dr.  Blair  is  described  by  one  who  knew  him,  as  "de- 
cidedly fine  looking ;  of  polished  manners,  and  of  amiable 
and  generous  disposition,  a  superior  scholar  and  an  elo- 
quent orator." 

Rev.  Dr.  William  Neill,  one  of  the  most  prominent  of 
the  later  pastors,  has  recorded  the  fact  that  Dr.  Blair  had 
himself  "labored  in  word  and  doctrine,  gratuitously,  and 
with  great  acceptance"  to  this  congregation.  This  was 
before  Mr.  Dunn  began  his  ministry,  and  it  indicates  that 
regular  meetings  of  this  congregation  for  Divine  Worship 
had  already  existed  for  an  indefinite  time  previous  to 
1809.  Dr.  Neill  also  speaks  of  Dr.  Blair  as  so  acceptable 
to  the  Churches  aroimd,  that  it  was  most  unfortunate 
that  he  could  not  have  extended  his  services  more  widely. 
Even  as  it  was,  however,  he  lived  so  near  to  Philadelphia, 
where  the  General  Assembly  usually  met,  that  he  was 
brought  into  touch  with  the  great  leaders  of  his  Church 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  17 


throughout  the  country,  and  he  had  special  opporttinities 
for  quiet  and  unofficial  service,  as  a  man  honored  and 
revered  by  his  brethren  for  nearly  two  generations. 

In  Germantown,  his  position  was  even  more  distin- 
guished. He  was  not  only  a  gentleman  of  comfortable 
estate  Hving  among  a  working  people,  but  also  an  eminent 
scholar,  living  among  men  who  revered  scholarship;  and 
above  all  he  was  a  man  of  God,  and  an  ordained  minister 
of  Jesus  Christ,  living  in  a  community  which  was  thor- 
oughly and  devotedly  religious.  All  this  would  give  him 
a  place  of  his  own,  among  his  German  neighbors;  and  it 
will  readily  be  seen  how  the  English  families  which  fol- 
lowed him  into  Germantown  would  be  drawn  to  him  as 
their  natural  leader. 

It  is  no  wonder  that  at  the  end  of  forty  such  years  we 
find  in  Dr.  Blair's  house  a  distinct  body  of  regular  wor- 
shippers ;  but  it  is  not  now  possible  to  tell  how  much  time 
had  passed  since  that  regular  worship  had  first  begrin. 
It  was  there  one  hundred  years  ago,  at  all  events. 

Here,  then,  is  the  chief  spring  and  origin  of  our  present 
Church  life;  from  the  Spirit  of  God,  present  with  this  man 
himself,  and  then  with  his  household,  and  with  their 
neighbors  informally  meeting  with  them,  and  finally  with 
the  regular  congregation  under  his  roof.  It  reminds  us 
of  the  days  when  Paul  greeted  not  only  Priscilla  and 
Aqmla,  but  "likewise  the  Church  that  is  in  their  house." 
Wherever  those  friends  of  the  Apostle  might  have  their 
home,  a  Church  was  sure  to  be  in  it,  sooner  or  later;  and 


18  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

SO  it  was  with  this  minister  of  Christ  and  his  house  in 
Germantown.  There  was  sure  to  be  a  Church  in  it,  sooner 
or  later,  and  any  Church  may  well  keep  in  grateful  remem- 
brance so  worthy  a  founder. 

The  English  congregation  was  thus  living  and  growing 
side  by  side  with  the  German  Churches,  and  entirely 
distinct  from  them.  By  the  year  1809,  however,  its  need 
of  more  definite  organization  was  emphasized  by  a  special 
movement  toward  it,  on  the  part  of  those  young  English- 
speaking  Germans  who  have  already  been  mentioned. 

Their  German  town  is  in  itself  something  which  emi- 
nently deserves  our  attention.  In  October,  1908,  when 
Philadelphia  celebrated  her  225th  Anniversary,  one  spe- 
cial feature  was  the  gathering  of  Germans  from  all  over 
the  land,  to  commemorate  the  establishment  here  of  the 
first  German  Colony  in  our  country.  The  same  year  had 
witnessed  the  settlement  of  William  Penn's  English 
Colony,  and  that  of  the  Germans  under  Daniel  Pastorius. 

GERMANTOWN,    OR    THE    GERMAN    TOWNSHIP,    as    it    is 

called  in  some  of  the  older  records,  was  from  its  very 
foundation  distinctly  religious.  It  was  '*  freedom  to  wor- 
ship God"  which  its  German  settlers  were  seeking  when 
they  left  their  homes  in  the  Palatinate.  The  first  arrivals 
reached  here  in  1683,  a  few  months  after  the  settlement 
of  Philadelphia,  and  for  more  than  fifty  years  increasing 
numbers  joined  them,  impelled  by  the  same  willingness 
to  live  as  exiles  in  the  American  wilderness,  rather  than 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  19 


give  up  religious  freedom.  The  armies  of  Roman  Catholic 
France  depopulated  many  a  Protestant  German  village, 
only  to  send  its  inhabitants  westward  to  Pennsylvania. 
So  great  was  the  number  of  these  exiles,  that  the  author- 
ities of  this  province  seem  to  have  been  more  than  once 
not  a  little  alarmed  lest  Pennsylvania  should  become 
German,  and  not  English;  and  the  population  of  the 
State  has  always  consisted  of  this  German  stock  in  far 
greater  proportion  than  is  generally  known.  So  late  as 
1751,  nearly  one-half  of  all  its  inhabitants  were  of  this 
race.  Most  of  the  German  settlements,  however,  were  in 
other  parts  of  the  province;  there  was  but  one  German 
town  in  the  immediate  neighborhood  of  Philadelphia. 
Some  of  the  first  settlers  of  Germantown  had,  before 
crossing  the  ocean,  joined  the  "  Society  of  Friends"  which 
had  but  recently  been  organized,  and  whose  originator, 
George  Fox,  was  still  living.  Others  of  them  took  the 
same  step  after  reaching  this  country,  so  that  the  house 
which  Pastorius,  the  leader  in  this  immigration,  erected 
as  a  place  of  worship  in  1686,  was  at  once  used  by  this 
Society  for  its  meetings.  Such  meetings  had  already 
been  held  in  a  private  house  since  1683. 

This  was  the  first  reHgious  organization  in  German- 
town,  and  Pastorius  himself  became  one  of  its  leading 
members.  He  was  a  highly  educated  man,  and  seems 
to  have  kept  its  records  in  the  English  language  from 
the  beginning,  though  German  was  spoken  at  the  meet- 
ings. 


20  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

The  first  public  testimony  which  was  ever  given  in  this 
country  against  Slavery,  came  from  this  Meeting  in  1688; 
though  the  German  Friends  did  not  find  their  appeal 
seconded  by  the  English  Friends,  who  were  not  as  yet  any 
more  advanced  in  this  matter  than  the  other  English 
colonists. 

In  1708  the  Mennonites  of  Germantown  formed  a 
Church  of  fifty-two  members,  and  in  1723  the  Tunkers  or 
Dunkards  organized  one  in  the  district  named  after  one 
of  the  settlers,  Bebberstown,  since  corrupted  to  Beggars- 
town. 

Of  the  German  Reformed  there  were  by  this  time  quite 
a  large  number  in  this  coimtry;  in  1731  they  were  esti- 
mated at  15,000.  But  there  was  an  utter  absence  of 
regular  pastors;  the  home  church  in  Germany  was  so 
persecuted  and  down-trodden  that  it  could  not  supply 
its  own  wants,  much  less  those  of  the  exiles  in  America. 
The  Reformed  Church  of  Holland  was  appealed  to,  and 
for  many  years  all  work  among  the  Germans  here  was 
fostered  by  the  Dutch  Classis  of  Amsterdam. 

The  first  efforts  in  this  direction  came,  however,  in  very 
-unpretending  shape,  from  among  the  colonists  them- 
selves. Men  of  earnest  Christian  hearts,  moved  by  the 
spiritual  needs  around  them,  exerted  themselves  to  do 
what  they  could,  and  ultimately  found  themselves  called 
by  the  people,  and  ordained  by  the  chiurch  authorities, 
as  ministers  of  the  Gospel. 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  21 


Such  a  man  was  the  founder  of  the  original  German 
Reformed  Church  in  Germantown,  the  Rev.  John  Bechtel. 
His  writings  and  his  Hfe  show  him  to  have  been  a  warm- 
hearted Christian  of  true  apostoHc  spirit.  When  he 
reached  this  country  in  1726,  being  at  the  time  thirty- 
eight  years  old,  he  began  immediate  efforts  for  the  spir- 
itual welfare  of  his  fellow  colonists.  Acting  simply  as  a 
layman,  he  held  religious  meetings  for  his  neighbors  at  his 
own  house,  and  this  not  on  Sundays  alone,  but  twice  each 
day  through  the  week.  In  a  letter  written  by  him  after- 
ward, in  1744,  he  declares  that  "  for  the  last  sixteen  years 
[that  is,  since  1728,  two  years  after  his  arrival],  I  have 
served  the  Reformed  Brethren  as  preacher,  according  to 
a  call  from  them,  and  a  written  confirmation  of  it  from 
Heidelberg  in  Germany."  He  was  not  formally  ordained 
until  1742,  when  Bishop  Nitschman  of  the  Moravian 
Church  took  the  chief  part  in  the  service.  Long  before 
this,  however,  in  1733,  five  years  after  his  call  and  licen- 
sure to  preach,  his  people  erected  the  first  German  Re- 
formed Church  building  in  the  State,  and  Divine  worship 
was  regularly  conducted  in  it  thenceforward.  The  pas- 
tors who  succeeded  him  were  no  less  consecrated  and 
fervent,  and  they  were  men  highly  educated,  regularly 
trained  for  the  ministry,  and  coming  to  this  country  in 
the  veritable  missionary  spirit.  One  of  them,  especially, 
Rev.  Michael  Schlatter,  was  widely  honored  throughout 
the  province  for  his  character  and  work.  He  was  to  his 
own  church  what  his  friend  Muhlenberg  was  to  the  Luth- 
eran body. 


22  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

From  1805  to  1811  the  German  Reformed  Congregation 
had  no  settled  pastor.  So  severely  was  this  destitution 
felt, -that  in  1807  the  congregation  at  Frankford,  which 
was  a  branch  of  this  one  in  Germantown  and  under  its 
care,  transferred  itself  to  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia, 
and  has  since  that  time  always  had  EngHsh-speaking 
Presbyterian  pastors.  This  action  was  taken  unani- 
mously; and  the  people  assigned  as  their  reasons,  that 
they  could  in  no  other  way  maintain  religious  services  at 
all,  and  that  they  considered  the  shades  of  difference 
between  the  German  Reformed  Church  and  the  Presby- 
terian Church  to  be  very  slight.  The  lines  of  distinction 
between  denominations  were  less  firmly  drawn  than  now. 
The  desire  for  service  in  the  English  language  had  much 
influence  with  the  congregation,  as  indeed  it  had  with  all 
the  other  German  churches  of  the  city  at  that  time. 
Each  of  them  came  to  a  point  at  which  the  younger  mem- 
bers, who  spoke  only  English,  either  changed  the  worship 
of  their  own  church  into  that  language,  or,  as  was  usually 
the  case,  found  themselves  obliged  to  seek  another  church. 
The  need  was  as  pressing  in  Germantown  as  elsewhere. 
Indeed,  Rev.  Mr.  Runkel,  who  resigned  in  1805,  had  been 
in  the  habit  of  preaching  in  both  languages  alternately. 
His  preaching  at  Frankford  was  in  English  three  times 
out  of  four,  and  even  after  his  departure,  the  German- 
town  Church  is  known  to  have  had  many  English  services. 
But  the  older  members  finally  refused  to  continue  this 
compromise,  and  voted  to  call  a  pastor  from  Germany, 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  23 


who  should  use  only  his  native  language  in  all  his  preach- 
ing. The  attachment  of  the  older  members  for  their 
native  language  is  easily  understood ;  yet  the  change  was 
inevitable  sooner  or  later,  and  for  men  who  had  perma- 
nently identified  themselves  with  an  English-speaking 
nation,  it  was  felt  to  be  as  desirable  as  it  was  neces- 
sary. The  younger  members  concluded  that  there  was 
no  alternative  but  to  attend  a  church  whose  worship  they 
could  understand. 

Mr.  Joseph  Miller,  one  of  the  leading  members  of  the 
German  Reformed  congregation,  was  especially  influen- 
tial in  this  movement.  The  following  information  con- 
cerning him  is  given  in  a  letter  sent  to  the  present  writer 
in  1872,  by  his  grandson,  Franklin  B.  Gowen,  Esq.: — 

"Mr.  Joseph  Miller,  my  maternal  grandfather,  was 
bom  at  Mount  Airy  (in  the  upper  part  of  Germantown)  on 
January  16th,  1757,  and  died  at  Mount  Airy,  March  27th, 
1825.  He  married  Susanna  Raser,  who  was  bom  January 
12th,  1767,  and  who  long  stirvived  him,  dying  in  Phila- 
delphia, September  23d,  1853.  In  1792  he  built  the 
stone  house  at  Mount  Airy,  in  which  he  subsequently 
lived  and  died,  in  which  my  mother  and  myself  were  born, 
in  which  I  recently  lived,  and  which  is  now  occupied  by 
my  brother,  Mr.  James  E.  Gowen." 

His  father,  Sebastian  Miller,  or,  as  he  invariably  wrote 
his  name,  "Sebastian  Miiller,"  was  undoubtedly  German; 
his  marriage  is  on  record  as  taking  place  in  Germantown, 
April  10th,  1754. 


24  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

The  family  was  one  of  the  oldest  in  connection  with  the 
German  Reformed  Congregation,  and  Mr.  Joseph  Miller 
was  a  prominent  man  in  the  commimity.  It  was  with 
great  reluctance  that  he  left  the  old  church,  and  his  whole 
life  and  character  confirmed  the  declaration  that  he  really 
felt  himself  compelled  to  do  this,  by  the  religious  necessi- 
ties of  his  own  children,  and  of  the  youth  around  him. 

The  times  were  not  propitious  in  all  respects  for  such  an 
undertaking  as  that  of  which  we  are  now  speaking ;  for  the 
events  which  culminated  in  the  War  of  1812,  were  already 
producing  great  disttubance  in  commercial  and  social 
relations.  Indeed,  one  of  the  earliest  services  held  in  the 
new  edifice  after  it  was  at  last  completed,  was  for  the  bene 
fit  of  a  military  company  enlisted  for  the  war. 

Yet  in  other  respects  it  was  a  season  decidedly  favor 
able  to  religious  activity.  There  was  everywhere  a  re- 
action from  the  spiritual  depression  which  had  been  felt 
during  the  generation  immediately  following  the  Revolu- 
tionary War.  The  Foreign  Missionary  work  in  this 
coimtry,  the  Sunday  School  Union,  the  Theological  Semi- 
nary at  Princeton,  were  all  lifted  into  existence  at  the 
same  time  with  this  little  church,  and  by  the  same  rising 
tide  of  spiritual  influence.  Our  Presbyterian  Home 
Mission  work  had  just  been  fully  organized,  and  there  had 
been  great  revivals  in  the  land,  such  as  had  not  been 
vouchsafed  for  more  than  a  generation.  Such  events  are 
surely  connected  one  with  another,  not  always  by  any 
conscious  purpose  of  men,  but  by  the  purpose  and  inten- 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  25 


tion  of  that  Holy  Spirit,  whose  presence  fills  every  part  of 
Christ's  Body,  the  Church.  There  was  by  His  grace  a 
spring-tide  of  religious  life  throughout  the  whole  Church 
in  this  coimtry;  and  there  is  a  new  interest  in  looking  at 
God's  providential  dealings  with  this  humble  German 
village,  when  we  see  that  they  formed  one  part  of  a  much 
broader  and  more  general  operation  of  the  Divine  Spirit. 
The  originators  of  this  Church  were  men  capable  of  dis- 
regarding outward  appearances,  and  following  the  inward 
call  of  the  Spirit. 

It  might  seem  strange  that  this  further  movement 
toward  full  organization,  did  not  bring  Dr.  Blair  into  view 
as  the  Pastor  of  the  Church.  But  we  have  already  noted 
that  he  was  extremely  averse  to  any  such  official  posi- 
tion and  by  this  time  he  was  very  near  to  seventy  years 
of  age,  so  that  his  confirmed  habits  of  scholarly  retirement 
made  him  feel  that  a  younger  and  more  active  man  should 
be  given  this  office,  if  any  such  man  could  possibly  be 
found. 

The  coming  of  the  rev.  thomas  dunn  just  at  this 
time  into  the  village,  was  held  to  be  providential  indeed 
by  the  Germantown  people.  This  might  have  been  less 
remarkable,  if  he  had  come  in  the  character  of  a  minister 
seeking  a  church,  or  sought  by  one:  but  the  circum- 
stances were  not  of  this  kind.  He  was  bom  in  Devon- 
shire, England,  in  1763,  and  was  educated  in  the  Baptist 
Church  at  Bristol,  under  the  charge  of  Dr.  Evards  and  the 
celebrated  Robert  Hall.     He  received  pressing  calls  from 


26  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

different  churches  in  England,  which  are  still  in  possession 
of  his  family.  By  the  advice  of  Lord  Erksine  he  left 
England  in  1793,  on  account  of  the  opposition  which  had 
been  excited  by  his  publishing  a  pamphlet,  which  was  too 
democratic  for  the  times.  He  preached  for  awhile  in 
Philadelphia  and  Newport,  but  on  accoimt  of  ill  health 
exchanged  this  for  a  business  life.  It  was  not,  therefore, 
as  a  minister,  but  as  a  layman,  doing  occasional  ministe- 
rial work,  that  he  removed  to  Germantown  in  1809.  He 
had  not  given  up  his  interest  in  preaching,  however,  and 
finding  the  spiritual  need  of  the  community  to  be  very 
pressing,  he  at  once  entered  with  great  heartiness  into 
the  work  of  supplying  it. 

The  German  Reformed  Congregation  invited  Mr.  Dimn 
to  conduct  services  for  them;  there  being,  as  already 
stated,  no  pastor  at  this  time.  He  accepted  the  invitation 
immediately,  and  there  was  for  a  time  some  prospect  of 
his  becoming  himself  their  pastor.  But  that  door  was 
presently  closed. 

In  Dr.  Blair's  spacious  house  he  met  the  English  wor- 
shippers, and  continued  so  to  do  for  the  next  three  years 
after  his  ordination.  He  had  some  time  previously 
changed  his  views  concerning  baptism,  and  had  become 
Presbyterian  in  conviction.  In  October,  1809,  he  applied 
for  reception  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of  Phila- 
delphia, as  a  licensed  preacher.  There  was  considerable 
delay,  however,  from  various  causes,  in  perfecting  these 
arraneements.     The  fact  that  Mr.  Dunn  had  come  from 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  27 


another  country  and  from  another  denomination,  made 
it  necessary  according  to  the  Constitution  of  our  Church, 
that  at  least  one  year  should  intervene  before  his  final 
reception  into  this  Body.  At  the  end  of  the  year,  how- 
ever, on  October  17th,  1810,  he  was  formally  received 
under  care  of  Presbytery.  It  was  then  agreed  by  Pres- 
tery  that  since  Mr.  Dunn  had  ''for  more  than  a  year  been 
preaching  to  a  congregation  within  our  bounds  to  the  satis- 
faction of  the  people,"  he  should  be  regularly  appointed 
to  preach  for  the  new  church. 

Sunday,  October  17th,  1909,  may  therefore  fitly  be 
taken  as  our  Centennial  Day.  In  marks  a  full  century 
since  the  date  indicated  by  the  Records  of  the  Presbytery 
of  Philadelphia,  as  that  which  fotmd  here  a  worshipping 
congregation  with  a  regular  minister  of  its  own ;  this  con- 
gregation being  for  all  practical  purposes  a  "Church" 
and  its  minister  a  "Pastor,"  since  nothing  but  the  name 
was  lacking,  and  that  was  delayed  for  technical  reasons 
only. 

The  Presbytery  sent  Dr.  Archibald  Alexander  to  con- 
fer with  the  people,  so  that  they  might  be  in  position 
for  extending  to  Mr.  Dunn  a  regular  and  formal  "call." 
When  this  was  finally  accomplished  Mr.  Dunn  received 
ordination,  June  19th,  1811;  the  Presbytery  of  Phila- 
delphia meeting  for  that  purpose  in  the  Methodist  church 
of  Germantown.  Dr.  Archibald  Alexander  presided, 
Rev.  Nathaniel  Irwin  preached,  and  Dr.  Ashbel  Green 
delivered  the   charge. 


28  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

For  about  three  years,  as  already  stated,  the  congre- 
gation continued  to  meet  in  the  house  of  Dr.  Blair. 
It  was  always  their  purpose,  however,  to  erect  a  new 
edifice  as  soon  as  possible,  and  by  March,  1811,  the  first 
subscription  books  were  opened.  In  the  heading  of 
these  books  it  is  specified  that  the  building  was  to  be 
"for  the  use  of  a  Christian  society,  formed  on  the  prin- 
ciples and  rules  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  under  the 
superintendency  of  the  General  Assembly  of  said  Church 
in  the  United  States." 

The  site  for  the  building  was  then  chosen,  and  an  agree- 
ment made  with  its  owner,  John  Detweiler,  to  purchase 
it  for  eight  hundred  pounds.  At  the  same  meeting  a 
building  committee  was  appointed,  consisting  of  Joseph 
Miller,  Henry  Bruner,  Joseph  Jacobs,  William  Sinclair, 
Robert  Bringhurst,  William  Stewart,  Jr.,  Jacob  Miller 
and  George  I.  Howell;  Joseph  Miller  being  treasurer, 
and  Isaac  Roberdeau,  secretary.  July  30th,  1811,  the 
building  was  staked  off;  August  2d,  ground  was  broken; 
August  21st,  the  deeds  were  finally  signed  by  Mr.  Det- 
weiler and  his  wife,  after  the  reluctance  of  the  latter 
had  been  overcome  by  giving  her  fifty  dollars  extra 
for  signing,  and  promising  her  one  hundred  cabbages 
to  replace  the  vegetables  then  growing  in  the  garden. 
The  details  of  these  transactions  are  recorded  with  great 
minuteness  by  Mr.  Roberdeau.  September  10th,  1811, 
the  comer  stone  was  laid,  Rev.  Dr.  Blair  presiding,  and 
Rev.  Mr.  Dunn  making  the  address.     In  January,  1812, 


jl\l^"^f^^ffl 

^m 

\\ 

^1 

effort  wa 


hoidii 

'ch  wa^i  m 

I 

^..-•i       • 

..-.> 

now, 

\ 

Februa- 

^he 

c 

the  b 

ri 

parsonag 

OSes  thus:    "Resolved  the  com 

Jole  of  the  obligations  wh? 
^ir  fellow  citizens  in  the  vicin; 

..;■.  ^vi..:.  foi  his  oisk^tere^tcd  an-"!  afT:'.;  i:...  ^:' ..   :.,',L_n- 

sposition  to  reward   his  ser  e 

cords  of  the  churc' 


...es    at  -!.-    and    Dr. 

caching  at 
The  building  was  forty-ii  ide  by  sixi 

and  the  ceiling  had  a  neigiit  of  thirty  tec:  ,a  tiie 
/e,    and    thirty-three    feet    at    the    apex.     It    cost 
)0  (part  of  which  was  still  unpaid  boH'ever)  and 
ostantial  and  creditable  stru«:r 


\ 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  29 


an  effort  was  made,  which  was  repeated  in  1815,  to  pro- 
cure legislative  sanction  for  the  holding  of  a  lottery  to 
raise  $12,000;  but  this  project,  which  was  in  those  days 
quite  as  ordinary  as  church  fairs  are  now,  was  never 
carried  into  effect.  In  February,  1812,  the  committee, 
"imder  a  due  sense  of  the  benevolent  labors  of  Mr. 
Dunn"  rented  him  a  parsonage,  paying  for  it  by  sub- 
scription. 

The  record  closes  thus:  "Resolved,  That  the  com- 
mittee, sensible  of  the  obligations  which  they,  in  com- 
mon with  their  fellow  citizens  in  the  vicinity,  are  tmder 
to  Mr.  Dunn  for  his  disinterested  and  affectionate  atten- 
tions, direct  that  this  testimony  of  their  gratitude  and 
disposition  to  reward  his  services,  be  entered  on  the 
records  of  the  church,  at  the  same  time  regretting  that, 
from  the  present  situation  of  the  institution,  it  is  out  of 
their  power  to  offer  him  suitable  compensation." 

In  April,  1812,  Presbytery  commended  this  church  to  the 
city  congregations  for  aid,  on  the  suggestion  of  Dr.  Blair. 

On  Sunday,  July  19th,  1812,  the  church  building  was 
dedicated  to  God,  Mr.  Dunn  holding  the  dedicatory 
services  at  11  A.  M.,  and  Dr.  Archibald  Alexander 
preaching  at  4  P.  M. 

The  building  was  forty-five  feet  wide  by  sixty-five  feet 
deep,  and  the  ceiling  had  a  height  of  thirty  feet  at  the 
cornice,  and  thirty- three  feet  at  the  apex.  It  cost 
$17,000  (part  of  which  was  still  unpaid  however)  and 
was  a  substantial  and  creditable  structure. 


30  THE   FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

During  the  same  month  an  agreement  was  made  by 
Dr.  Blair  and  Mr.  Joseph  Miller  for  an  organ  of  fourteen 
stops,  costing  $1200,  to  be  finished  within  one  year 
by  Alexander  Schlotman.  Mr.  Miller  for  many  years 
added  to  his  other  useful  offices,  that  of  organist.  Aug- 
ust 30th,  the  first  communion  service  was  held  in  the 
new  church,  twenty-seven  communicants  partaking. 

In  October,  1812,  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  Blair,  Joseph  Miller, 
Henry  Bruner  and  William  Tumbull  were  elected  as 
Elders.  Dr.  Blair's  Eldership  would  of  course  not 
have  been  possible,  if  American  rather  than  Scotch 
rules  had  been  followed.  In  March,  1813,  a  Board  of 
Deacons  was  ordained.  On  the  second  Thursday  in 
May,  Rev.  Mr.  Dunn  was  finally  installed  as  pastor, 
Rev.  Messrs.  Potts,  Latta  and  Doak  taking  part  in 
the  service.  Mr.  Dimn's  salary  was  $800.  In  June, 
additional  elders  and  deacons  were  ordained.  In  April, 
1814,  the  first  election  under  the  charter  was  held. 
This  charter,  which  is  reprinted  in  the  appendix  to  the 
present  volume,  provided  for  giving  the  care  of  temporal 
affairs  to  a  '* Vestry"  consisting  of  twenty-six  mem- 
bers, serving  for  four  years.  The  elders  were  permanent 
members  ex  officio;  the  others  were  divided  into  four 
classes,  and  one  class  was  elected  each  year.  Rev.  Dr. 
Blair  was  the  first  president  of  this  Vestry,  Joseph 
Miller  treasurer,  and  John  Cameron  secretary.  In  June, 
1814,  it  is  recorded  that  on  account  of  Rev.  Mr.  Dunn's 
ill  health,  the  afternoon  service  was  omitted,  and  the 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  31 


evening  service  continued,  which  indicates  that  three 
services  had  been  held  previously.  This  is  one  among 
many  indications  of  Mr.  Dunn's  energy  and  faith- 
fulness. 

In  October,  1815,  Mr.  Dunn  resigned  his  charge  on 
account  of  ill  health,  which  prevented  his  maintaining 
such  active  work. 

He  had  been  preaching  continuously  in  Germantown 
since  the  summer  of  1809;  in  the  German  Reformed 
edifice  at  first,  then  at  Dr.  Blair's  house,  and  in  the  new 
church  building.  When  he  began  his  work  he  was 
some  forty-seven  years  of  age,  and  was  known  as  an  able 
and  attractive  preacher.  Contemporary  records  show 
that  he  produced  a  decided  impression  for  good  upon 
the  community  at  large ;  and  on  the  part  of  the  congre- 
gation it  is  said  that  "God  has  sent  unto  us  in  a  very 
remarkable  manner  a  preacher  eminently  qualified  for 
this  glorious  work,  in  whom  all  are  united,  and  whose 
ministry  has  hitherto  been  greatly  blessed."  He  after- 
ward resided  chiefly  at  Newport,  R.  I.,  until  his  death 
in  1833;  and  we  are  glad  to  know  that  the  same  qual- 
ities which  enabled  him  to  be  of  inestimable  benefit  to 
the  church  in  this  place,  have  in  his  descendants  pro- 
duced similar  results  elsewhere.  His  grandson.  Rev. 
Robinson  Potter  Dunn,  D.D.,  was  well  known  as  pastor 
of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Camden,  New  Jersey, 
and  professor  in  Brown  University;  he  also  received  a 
call  to  the  pastorate  of  this  church  in  subsequent  years. 


32  THE    FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

It  is  interesting  to  learn,  that  Rev.  Robinson  Potter 
Dunn  Bennett,  now  pastor  of  the  Summit  Presbyterian 
Church  in  Germantown,  is  another  lineal  descendant  of 
Rev.  Thomas  Dunn. 

REV.  GEORGE  BOURNE,  member  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Lexington,  in  Virginia,  was  invited  in  November,  1815, 
to  supply  the  pulpit  for  a  year :  two  services  to  be  held  on 
Sabbath,  and  one  on  Thursday  evening;  salary  $600. 
Mr.  Bourne  informed  the  Session  that  action  had  been 
taken  against  him  by  the  Presbytery  of  Lexington, 
chiefly  on  account  of  his  bold  denunciation  of  slavery; 
but  it  refused  to  give  any  weight  to  these  charges,  and  in 
January,  1816,  he  began  regular  service  in  Germantown. 

In  March,  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia  notified  the 
church  that  this  action  was  deemed  irregular,  whereupon 
the  people  warmly  sustained  Mr.  Bourne:  indeed  they 
carried  it  so  far  that  Dr.  Blair  resigned  his  seat  in  Pres- 
bytery, and  the  church  withdrew  from  connection  with  it. 
On  June  16th,  Mr.  Bourne  was  formally  elected  Pastor  of 
the  church.  In  March,  1817,  we  find  the  church  settling 
some  difficulties  which  had  arisen  among  the  people  in 
consequence  of  this  ecclesiastical  position,  by  calling  upon 
Rev.  Messrs.  Ely,  St  aught  on,  Wilson,  Parker  and  Patter- 
son to  act  as  an  advisory  council. 

In  May,  1817,  the  General  Assembly  referred  back  Mr. 
Bourne's  case  to  the  Presbytery  of  Lexington,  on  account 
of  the  insiifficiency  of  proof  against  him,  and  the  over- 
severity  of  his  sentence.     In  October,  1817,   Dr.   Blair 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  33 


resumed  his  seat  as  a  member  of  the  Presbytery  of  Phila- 
delphia ;  Dr.  William  Neill  and  Mr.  Dimn  having  conferred 
with  him  on  behalf  of  that  body.  In  January,  1818, 
steps  were  taken  by  the  Church  Vestry  towards  reuniting 
with  the  Presbytery;  and  on  March  29th,  at  a  Church 
meeting  moderated  by  Rev.  Dr.  E.  S.  Ely,  a  letter  was 
addressed  to  the  Presbytery,  requesting  that  the  church 
be  considered  as  again  one  of  its  constituents,  and  asking 
it  to  sanction  Mr.  Bourne's  officiating  as  minister  '*  for  the 
present."  On  April  21,  the  Presbytery  did  accordingly 
receive  the  church  again  into  membership. 

In  May,  1818,  however,  the  General  Assembly  of  the 
year  decided  against  Mr.  Bourne.  This  occasioned  a 
division  of  sentiment  among  the  congregation ;  but  as  the 
officers,  led  by  Dr.  Blair,  took  decided  action  in  support  of 
the  General  Assembly's  authority,  Mr.  Bourne  withdrew 
in  June  with  the  purpose  of  forming  a  new  organization. 
On  July  14th,  we  find  the  Presbytery,  on  application  of 
the  elders  from  this  church,  appointing  supplies  for  the 
pulpit.  On  July  27th,  the  Vestry  appointed  a  committee 
to  choose  arbitrators  between  Mr.  Bourne  and  the  church. 
On  September  13th,  1818,  Mr.  Bourne  organized  the 
"Shiloh  Independent  Church"  in  Germantown,  with 
thirty  members.  It  continued  in  existence  only  a  few 
months,  however. 

Mr.  Bourne  was  of  English  birth,  and  was  licensed  at 
London  in  1804.  The  next  ten  years  of  his  life  were 
spent  in  Virginia  and  Maryland.     After  leaving  German- 


34  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

town,  he  took  charge  of  an  Academy  at  Sing  Sing,  and 
supplied  the  Presbyterian  pulpit.  He  was  afterward 
Pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church  at  Quebec;  then  at 
New  York  City,  and  at  West  Farms,  in  Reformed  Dutch 
churches.  He  died  in  1845,  aged  sixty-five.  He  was  a 
man  of  considerable  literary  attainments  as  well  as 
personal  piety;  his  boldness  is  sufficiently  shown  by  his 
attacks  upon  slavery  in  Virginia  and  upon  "popery"  in 
Quebec.  It  is  gratifying  to  know  that  he  survived  these 
troublous  experiences  in  Germantown  for  nearly  thirty 
years,  and  continued  in  the  work  of  the  ministry  up  to 
old  age  with  great  power  and  usefulness.  The  church 
roll  showed  twenty-nine  members  at  his  accession;  he 
added  forty  to  the  list,  and  has  left  on  record  thirty-six 
baptisms. 

The  month  of  September,  1818,  may  be  taken  as  closing 
the  first  period  of  our  Church  history.  It  is  marked,  not 
only  by  the  departure  of  Mr.  Bourne,  but  by  the  death  of 
Dr.  Samuel  Blair.  For  nearly  fifty  years,  as  already 
noted,  Dr.  Blair  had  been  the  leading  English  Presby- 
terian in  Germantown.  His  house  had  sheltered  the 
congregation  which  developed  into  the  English  Church, 
and  it  continued  to  be  the  home  of  that  Church  tmtil  its 
new  building  was  finally  erected.  He  was  the  President 
of  its  Vestry  until  in  August,  1816,  he  resigned  because 
of  growing  bodily  infirmity ;  and  he  was  the  leading  Elder 
in  active  service  until  his  death.  The  letter  of  June  25, 
1818,  addressed  to  Mr.  Bourne  and  signed  by  Dr.  Blair 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  35 


as  '*  Ruling  Elder,"  is  a  model  of  courteous  but  thorough- 
going firmness  and  energy.  Dr.  Blair  was  always  help- 
ful financially,  both  in  timely  loans  and  in  generous 
gifts.  He  was  the  chief  support  of  Mr.  Dunn  throughout 
his  active  pastorate;  and  he  stood  faithfully  by  Mr. 
Bourne  up  to  the  point  of  actual  disruption  from  the 
General  Assembly.  Then  he  expended  all  his  influence 
and  power,  officially  and  personally,  to  hold  the  Church 
loyal  to  Presbyterianism.  He  actually  died  in  the  effort, 
but  it  was  successful;  so  that  he  not  only  founded  and 
developed  the  Chtirch,  but  preserved  it  from  destruc- 
tion. 

No  Chtirch  could  well  expect  a  more  utter  absence  of 
strife  and  friction  than  we  have  had  ever  since  that  con- 
flict of  1818;  but  at  the  time  it  was  a  deadly  peril.  On 
the  small  scale  of  village  life.  Dr.  Blair  was  to  that  little 
congregation,  both  a  Moses  and  an  Elijah — both  a 
Foimder  and  a  Defender.  All  this  was,  as  has  just  been 
said,  on  a  very  small  scale ;  but  no  small  man  could  have 
met  the  need,  and  it  was  no  small  thing  to  establish  and 
then  to  rescue  a  Church  of  Christ.  When  we  combine 
together  these  and  all  his  other  services,  and  take  into 
accoimt  the  length  of  time  over  which  they  extended, 
and  when  we  consider  that  a  man  of  such  high  character 
and  standing  gave  credit  to  the  congregation  by  his  very 
presence  in  the  midst,  we  may  the  better  perceive  in  what 
unusual  degree  the  beginnings  of  our  Church  life  are 
identified  with  this  one  man,  Samuel  Blair. 


36  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

As  we  have  already  seen,  the  Church  received  through 
Dr.  Blair  not  only  his  own  services,  but  those  of  other 
members  in  his  own  circle.  One  of  those  was  Col.  Isaac 
Roberdeau,  who  had  married  Dr.  Blair's  daughter  Susan, 
and  was  resident  in  Germantown. 

Isaac  Roberdeau  was  the  son  of  a  French  Huguenot  of 
high  standing,  and  his  mother  was  of  a  noble  Scottish 
family.  He  had  been  trained  in  Europe  as  a  Civil  Engi- 
neer, and  was  associated  with  L' Enfant  in  laying  out 
the  City  of  Washington.  He  served  as  an  officer  in  the 
army  during  the  War  of  1812,  and  afterward  surveyed 
the  boundary  line  between  this  country  and  Canada,  in 
accordance  with  the  treaty  of  Ghent.  Later  still  he 
organized  the  Bureau  of  Topographical  Engiiieers  at 
Washington,  and  continued  to  be  its  Chief,  until  his 
death  in  1829. 

He  was  a  valuable  co-worker  with  Dr.  Blair,  espe- 
cially in  the  erection  of  the  Church  building.  Most  of 
the  records  during  that  time  are  in  his  singularly  char- 
acteristic and  legible  hand-writing.  One  of  his  descend- 
ants, Mr.  Roberdeau  Buchanan,  was  an  accomplished 
student  and  writer  of  Colonial  genealogy,  and  his  re- 
searches have  cleared  up  many  obscure  points  in  these 
early  records.  He  was  consulted  in  the  preparation  of 
the  memorial  tablet  in  honor  of  Dr.  Blair,  which  was 
placed  on  the  wall  of  the  Church  in  1892.  This  tablet 
reads  as  follows: — 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  37 


IN    MEMORY 

OF 

THE    REV.    SAMUEL    BLAIR,    A.M.,    S.T.D., 

Founder  and  First  Ruling  Elder  of  this  Church, 

Pastor  of  the  Old  South  Church,  Boston,  1766-1769. 

Chaplain  in  the  Revolutionary  Army,   1775, 

Chaplain  of  the  House  of  Representatives 

Of  the  United  States,   1790-1792. 

Elected  President  of  Princeton  College, 

When  but  Twenty-Seven  Years  of  Age, 

An  Honor  Which  He  Declined 

In  Favor  of  Dr.  John  Witherspoon. 

Devoted  to  this  Church  from  its  Foundation,  in  1809, 

Until  His  Death,  in  the  77th  year  of  His  Age, 

September  24th,   1818. 

And  of 

SUSAN   SHIPPEN    BLAIR,    HIS   WIFE, 

Daughter  of  Dr.  William  Shippen  the  Elder, 

Who,  by  Her  Generosity  and  Untiring  Exertions 

Greatly  Aided  Her  Husband 

In  the  Establishment  and  Maintenance 

Of  This  Church. 
Died  October  12th,   1821,  Aged  78  Years. 


38  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

In  his  comments  on  this  inscription,  Mr.  Buchanan 
mentions  that  the  degree  of  A.  M.  came  to  Dr.  Blair 
from  both  Princeton  and  Harvard,  and  that  the  **S. 
T.  D. "  came  from  the  University  of  Pennsylvania. 
He  also  speaks  of  Dr.  Blair's  membership  in  the  American 
Philosophical  Society,  and  of  various  other  honorable 
positions  held  by  him.  The  Blair  family  is  shown  by 
Mr.  Buchanan  to  have  been  of  eminent  service  in  con- 
nection with  the  Presbyterian  Ministry,  and  also  with 
Princeton  and  other  colleges,  and  with  the  public  life 
of  our  country.  He  mentions  the  name  of  Dr.  Blair 
himself,  of  his  father  and  his  Uncle  John  and  his  cousin — 
each  of  them  a  ''Rev.  Dr.  Blair,"  as  already  noted; 
and  also  that  of  his  cousin,  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  Stanhope 
Smith,  who  married  Dr.  Witherspoon's  daughter,  and 
himself  became  a  President  of  Princeton  College.  He  had 
other  cousins  who  were  in  the  Ministry,  and  his  four 
sisters  were  married  to  well-known  ministers,  Duffield, 
Rice,  Foster  and  Carmichael.  Mr.  Buchanan  goes  on  to 
mention  Montgomery  Blair,  Senator  Frank  P.  Blair  and 
Vice-President  Breckenridge  and  *'six  or  more  College 
Presidents,"  as  of  a  later  generation  of  the  Blair  family. 

Not  the  least  of  Dr.  Blair's  services  was  his  engaging 
for  the  Church  the  special  attention  and  interest  of 
another  eminent  man,  one  of  his  own  type,  the  Rev. 
Dr.  William  Neill.  Dr.  Neill  did  not  take  this  pastoral 
charge  until  several  years  had  passed;  but  from  his 
place   in   Presbytery   he   watched   over  its   affairs   and 


IN   GERMANTOWN.  39 


served  it  faithfully.  From  the  time  of  Dr.  Blair's  death, 
Dr.  Neill  was  a  special  friend  and  helper  of  this  Church 
for  more  than  forty  years. 

In  October,  1818,  Rev.  Dr.  Neill  and  Rev.  Mr.  Potts 
were  appointed  a  committee  to  visit  and  coimsel  the 
Germantown  Church  on  behalf  of  Presbytery;  and  in 
December  Dr.  Neill  introduced  to  the  Presbytery  THE 
REV.  JAMES  ROCKER,  with  the  view  of  having  him 
recognized  as  Pastor  of  this  Church.  Mr.  Rooker  was 
accordingly  accepted  as  a  Licentiate,  on  December  17th, 
1818,  with  expressions  of  high  regard  for  himself  and 
appreciation  of  his  previous  usefulness.  He,  like  both 
of  his  predecessors,  was  of  English  birth,  and  was  at 
this  time  sixty-two  years  of  age ;  but  although  a  man  of 
great  experience  and  worth,  he  seems  to  have  had  no 
ordination  imtil  June,  1819,  when  he  was  ordained  and 
installed  as  pastor  of  this  Church.  Rev.  Dr.  Neill  pre- 
sided; Rev.  Thomas  H.  Skinner  preached  the  sermon, 
and  Rev.  J.  K.  Burch  gave  the  charges. 

On  April  25th,  1819,  *'a  Sunday  School  was  opened 
in  the  Church  for  instructing  the  children  to  read  and 
learn  by  heart  portions  of  Scripture."  There  was  soon 
an  attendance  of  three  hundred  children. 

From  a  record  in  1825,  we  find  that  the  Church  was 
in  the  habit  of  regular  contributions  to  the  ''United 
Foreign  Missionary  Society,"  by  means  of  collections 
taken  at  the  ''monthly  concerts,"  as  the  Missionary 
prayer  meetings  were  at  that  time  called. 


40  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

April  20th,  1826,  Mr.  Rooker  resigned  his  pastoral 
charge  from  infirm  health  and  advanced  age,  though  he 
continued  to  administer  the  ordinances  until  his  death 
in  December,  1828,  at  the  age  of  seventy-three.  The 
church  records  show  that  he  found  thirty-one  members 
enrolled  at  his  accession;  he  added  fifty-six  and  per- 
formed seventy-four  baptisms.  He  is  remembered, 
however,  less  by  such  details  of  work  than  because  of 
the  deep  impression  made  by  his  beautiful  Christian 
character. 

In  April,  1827,  there  being  still  some  $3000  debt 
on  the  church  building,  the  property  was  deeded  over 
to  Rev.  Drs.  E.  S.  Ely  and  J.  J.  Janeway,  of  the  Presby- 
tery of  Philadelphia,  on  condition  of  their  assuming 
this  debt;  and  for  about  five  years  the  title  to  the  prop- 
erty was  in  their  hands.  On  Mr.  Rooker's  death, 
REV.  JAMES  NOURSE  supplied  the  pulpit  during  1829  and 
part  of  1830,  adding  eight  to  the  roll.  After  several 
other  ministers  had  taken  charge  for  shorter  periods, 
REV.  DR.  GEORGE  JUNKIN  preached  for  several  months, 
adding  twenty- two  to  the  roll  of  members.  He  was 
then  principal  of  the  "Manual  Labor  Academy "  in  Ger- 
mantown,  and  is  said  in  his  biography  to  have  found 
here  **a  good  church  building,  with  the  nucleus  of  a 
congregation. " 

The  mention  of  these  names  is  another  reminder  that 
this  Church  was  kept  in  an  honorable  position  before 
the  community,  even  through  its  weaker  days,  by  the 


i^Kii^^b  y  ;  £ 


m  infirm  r 

admirii: 

imance^ 

m                         '  • ' 

ch...  ..'  i>..vvi.,. 

>.jsi.t\j  -Oi.-. 

enrolled  at   * 

i  fifty-six  . 

!ememi 

howu 

i  because-  ot 

^- 1  -  . 

■    ..       /M. ,-•-..•-. 

REV.  JAMES  XOURSE 


this  d 

REV.  JAMES  BOURSE  SUppliCa    tiie  pUipit  :b29  aud 

o"  for  shorter  pe 

GEORGE   TUNKHf  Dreached  for  several  immths. 


he 

Tlie  lucntii. 
this  Church 
the  communv' 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  41 


high  standing  of  the  men  who  ministered  to  it.  Mr. 
Nourse  was  noted  for  his  literary  abiHty  and  scholar- 
ship. He  edited  the  first  Paragraph  Bible  published 
in  the  United  States,  and  was  well  known  as  an  author. 
Until  his  sudden  death  by  cholera  in  1854,  he  was 
actively  engaged  in  successful  work  as  preacher  and 
writer. 

Dr.  George  Junkin  would  have  needed  no  introduction 
in  any  part  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  two  generations 
ago.  While  in  Germantown  he  was  Moderator  of  the 
Synod,  and  in  1844  became  Moderator  of  the  General 
Assembly. 

"The  Manual  Labor  Academy"  may  seem  like  a  strange 
attraction  for  such  a  man.  But  this  was  really  a  most 
interesting  enterprise,  on  the  same  principle  which 
Dwight  L.  Moody  long  afterward  developed  at  North- 
field  and  Mount  Hermon.  Poor  young  men  were  to  be 
aided  in  self-support,  and  wealthier  ones  were  to  be 
given  exercise,  wholesome  in  more  than  one  sense,  by 
the  "Manual  Labor"  which  was  obligatory  upon  all. 
The  ultimate  object,  in  both  cases  alike,  was  to  train  men 
for  Christian  work  and  especially  for  the  Ministry. 

The  location  at  Germantown  proved,  however,  to  be 
rather  inconvenient  in  some  ways,  and  Dr.  Junkin 
transferred  his  work  to  Easton,  taking  with  him  the 
Professors  as  well  as  the  students  of  the  Academy. 
There  he  found  a  college  existing  as  yet  only  on  paper, 
to  which  he  gave  life  and  body  by  his  advent.     The 


42  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

Manual  Labor  Academy  from  Germantown  turned  thus 
into  Lafayette  College. 

It  was  in  the  same  building  where  Dr.  Blair  had  lived, 
on  Walnut  Lane  and  Germantown  Avenue,  that  this 
Academy  was  located;  and  that  house  may  therefore 
be  regarded  as  in  some  sense  the  birthplace  of  a  College 
as  well  as  a  Church. 

Dr.  Junkin  himself,  after  his  Presidency  of  Lafayette, 
became  President  of  Miami  University,  and  of  Wash- 
ington College  in  Virginia,  where  he  continued  until 
1860.  With  the  outbreak  of  the  war,  he  returned  here 
to  Philadelphia,  where  he  lived  through  an  honored 
and  venerated  old  age.  He  died  in  1868,  in  his  seventy- 
eighth    year. 

REV.  DR.  WILLIAM  NEILL,  who  had  SO  long  been  fam- 
iliarly acquainted  with  the  Church,  assumed  personal 
charge  of  it  in  September,  1831,  remaining  in  this  connec- 
tion until  September,  1842.  With  Dr.  Neill  in  regular  charge 
the  condition  of  affairs  began  to  improve,  and  the  congre- 
gation prepared  to  resume  control  of  their  own  property. 

It  seemed  desirable,  however,  to  make  several  changes 
in  the  constitution  of  the  Church;  and  to  accomplish 
this,  the  members  of  the  ''Enghsh  Presbyterian  Church" 
caused  themselves  to  be  organized  by  legislative  Act 
(June  12th,  1832)  into  a  new  corporation,  with  a  new 
title:  ''The  First  Presbyterian  Church  in  Germantown." 
The  Charter  then  granted  will  also  be  found  in  the  appen- 
dix to  the  present  volume.     There  has  been  no  serious 


>  J  J  X  ±  s:j  ! 


^•nv  ademy  fro; 

u  the  same  ;(  where  Dr 

it  Lane  ana  •  '       .   Aven. 

.....V......   was  located  ••r-e  n-„_ 

,»v'  ref-arded  as  in  scr  lace  of 


Di.  JuiiKia  iiir 


THE   REV.  GEORGE   JVNKIN,  D.D. 


REV.  DR.  WTtTTAM   NFj 


iliarly   ac(]Uc: 

0  of  it  in  be , 

,  ItSl, 

..  .:]  C,..-.-..-.-- 

^    T^n-M 

improve,  and  the 


title;  ^    . 


at  vol« 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  43 


incumbrance  on  the  property  since  the  Church  has  borne 
the  present  title.  Several  small  claims  did  remain  unsat- 
isfied for  some  years;  but  on  August  21st,  1836,  it  is 
recorded  as  "being  free  from  all  debt  whatever." 

During  Dr.  Neill's  connection  with  the  Church  we 
find  Mr.  William  D.  Howard  (afterward  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Howard,  of  Pittsburgh)  serving  as  elder,  and  as  Presi- 
dent of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  1835-38.  In  1838  the 
use  of  the  church  building  on  Sunday  afternoons  and 
evenings  was  given  to  the  German  Reformed  Church, 
pending  the  completion  of  their  new  edifice.  In  August, 
1841,  a  congregational  library  was  established  by  Dr. 
Neill.  In  September,  1842,  he  resigned  his  position  and 
passed  his  declining  years  in  retirement  at  his  home  in 
Philadelphia.  He  admitted  forty-three  members  and 
performed  fifty-eight  baptisms. 

Dr.  Neill  was  bom  in  1778,  during  the  Revolutionary 
War,  and  died  in  1860,  just  after  the  outbreak  of  the 
great  Civil  War.  After  graduating  at  Princeton  in  1803, 
he  was  appointed  tutor  in  the  College  and  served  there 
until  1805,  when  he  was  ordained.  Before  coming  to 
Philadelphia,  he  had  been  Pastor  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Albany,  New  York,  from  1809  to  1816.  He 
was  Moderator  of  the  General  Assembly  of  1815,  at  its 
meeting  in  Albany,  and  from  1817  to  1825  he  was  Stated 
Clerk  of  the  General  Assembly. 

In  1816  he  accepted  the  Pastorate  of  the  Sixth  Church 
in  Philadelphia,  and  remained  there  until  1829.     Then 


44  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

he  became  successively  the  President  of  Dickinson  Col- 
lege at  Carlisle,  Pennsylvania,  and  the  Secretary  of  the 
Presbyterian  Board  of  Education  at  Philadelphia. 

In  the  autobiography  which  was  published  after  his 
death,  he  tells  us  that  his  coming  to  German  town,  in 
1831,  was  chiefly  on  the  personal  invitation  of  his  friend, 
Mr.  John  S.  Henry  (father  of  T.  Charlton  Henry),  who 
had  been  actively  interested  in  this  Church  for  several 
years  previously,  and  who  stood  sponsor  for  the  Church 
in  this  matter.  When  Dr.  Neill  came  to  Germantown 
he  was  fifty-three  years  old,  and  he  remained  in  the 
Pastorate  until  his  sixty-fourth  year.  It  is  a  significant 
fact  that  regular  Sessional  Records  began  with  this 
Pastorate. 

On  his  retirement,  in  1842,  Dr.  Neill  introduced  to  the 
Church  his  personal  friend.  Rev.  Thomas  B.  Bradford, 
who  thereupon,  as  will  presently  be  noted,  was  accepted 
as  his  successor.  In  fact.  Dr.  Neill's  active  interest  in 
this  Church  began  in  1816,  and  lasted  until  his  death  in 
1860,  when  Dr.  Knox  had  already  been  Pastor  for  seven 
years.  He  says  himself,  and  correctly,  "  By  my  labors 
they  were  kept  together  till  the  days  of  their  pros- 
perity." 

In  the  great  revival  of  1857,  and  in  all  the  events  of 
that  historic  period,  Dr.  Neill  was  active  and  influential 
for  good  in  Philadelphia.  His  last  years  were  his  best 
years,  and  he  was  loved  and  venerated  increasingly  to 
the  very  end. 


.a  .a  .jjiEVi  ¥xK\aj 


■1 


\V\    -RWT 


'  arlisie,  Pe^  and  th 

m  at  T 

deatli,  he  tells  us  ?  to  Germr 

'8,5 :,  ^^  as  chiefl 

Mr.  John  S.  H^  Iieni 


THE  REV.   WILLIAM  NEILL,  D.  D. 


Church 


Dr.  Ni 
and  h: 


yea 
the  ver 


-ch 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  45 


REV.  THOMAS  B.  BRADFORD  had  charge  of  the  Church 
from  September,  1842,  until  April,  1850.  He  found 
fifty-three  enrolled  members;  added  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five,  and  performed  sixty-five  baptisms.  There 
is  little  of  strongly-marked  incident  recorded  of  these 
years,  but  they  had  a  decided  influence  for  good 
on  the  character  of  the  Church;  its  whole  spirit  grew 
more  hopeful  and  aggressive,  and  it  became  free  from 
its  dependence  on  the  Home  Mission  Board  for  the  first 
time.  Rev.  Mr.  Bradford  resigned  his  charge  in  1850, 
on  accoimt  of  painful  bodily  ailments,  and  was  never 
able  to  resimie  pastoral  work,  although  rendering  con- 
siderable service  to  weak  churches  in  his  own  vicinity, 
until  his  death,  in  1871,  after  a  long  illness. 

REV.  SEPTIMUS  TUSTIN,  D.D.,  took  charge  in  October, 
1850,  being  introduced  to  the  Church  by  Dr.  Neill, 
to  whom  Dr.  Tustin  refers  as  "my  life-long  friend." 
He  was  formally  installed  in  July  following,  Rev.  Dr. 
Neill  presiding  and  giving  the  charge  to  the  Pastor,  and 
Rev.  Dr.  Robert  Steel  preaching  the  sermon.  Rev.  B. 
F,  Steel  gave  the  charge  to  the  people. 

Dr.  Tustin  was  bom  in  1804,  licensed  to  preach  in 
1822,  and  ordained  in  1824,  when  he  was  but  twenty 
years  old.  Such  things  were  possible  in  those  earlier 
days,  when  young  men  could  take  both  College  and  Semi- 
nary courses  in  the  home  of  some  scholarly  minister. 
He  went  at  once  to  Washington,  North  CaroHna,  and 
then  to  Charlestown,  Virginia,  where  in  the  course  of 


46  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

his  Pastorate  he  officiated  as  Chaplain  of  the  Univer- 
sity of  Virginia  in  1836.  He  was  afterward  Pastor  at 
Warrenton,  Virginia,  and  later  still  was  associated, 
from  1839  to  1845,  with  the  venerable  Dr.  Laurie  in 
what  was  then  the  F  Street  Church  of  Washington, 
District  of  Columbia.  It  was  while  there  that  he  was 
appointed,  first,  Chaplain  to  the  House  of  Represen- 
tatives, and  then  for  six  years  Chaplain  to  the  Senate. 
After  a  pastorate  at  Hagerstown,  Maryland,  he  came 
to  Germantown.  Here  he  had  already  received  fifty-six 
into  membership,  and  the  tide  of  prosperity  was  steadily 
rising,  when  he  resigned  and  turned  his  face  southward 
again  in  June,  1852.  He  went  to  Havre  de  Grace, 
Maryland,  then  to  Aberdeen,  Mississippi,  and  finally 
returned  once  more  to  Washington. 

Dr.  Tustin  performed  a  duty  of  noteworthy  impor- 
tance for  Church  history  in  1862  and  1863.  In  the 
midst  of  the  Civil  War  he  rendered  a  great  service 
for  Church  reunion.  Being  Chairman  of  the  "Com- 
mittee on  Correspondence  with  other  Churches,"  in 
the  Old  School  General  Assembly  of  1862,  he  made  the 
first  official  proposal  that  fraternal  relations  should  be 
resumed  with  the  New  School  Church,  by  a  personal 
delegation  to  its  General  Assembly.  In  1863  he  was 
himself  appointed  as  such  delegate,  and  after  a  separa- 
tion of  twenty-six  years,  his  voice  was  the  first  to  break 
the  silence  between  the  two  Churches.  It  is  not  easy  to 
appreciate   today   how   difficult   the   situation   was    at 


>lttei 


gulf   V 

The  ^..1 

;o  Dr.  Tu^^ri. 
.!  manner  in  v 
'        ate  part  assigns 
amiliar  with  the  situation  t) 
it  was  indeed  a  "delicrite  \ 

nled  everything .     Tho  se-'.ire  o-   '-•■•    -  ^ 
aor  enough  for  a  Hfetime. 
urch  and  its  v 


d  helpful  friendship  with  the  < 

i    ,  Van  Dyke  was  bom  on  the  outskirts  ot  Germain 
town,  at  the  comer  of  Washington  Lane 
'V  ork  Road,  in  Abington,  on  March  2d,  •  ^  ' 
•'6.    frr>Tn    the    Urii^-ersit^'    of    Persr^". 
heology 
iiuiiias  Braineiu,  and  compietcd  1 


:iA 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  47 


that  time.  A  Church  alienation,  like  one  in  the  family, 
is  bitter  just  because  the  relations  touched  are  so  sacred. 
This  separation  had  begun  so  bitterly  and  had  lasted  so 
long,  that  no  man  would  have  adventured  across  the 
gulf  unless  he  were  endowed  with  great  gifts  of  faith 
and  hope  and  love.  The  Moderator  of  the  New  School 
Assembly  expressed  to  Dr.  Tustin  their  appreciation  of 
"the  truly  admirable  manner  in  which  you  have  dis- 
charged the  delicate  part  assigned  to  you."  Any  reader 
who  is  familiar  with  the  situation  then  existing  will 
recognize  that  it  was  indeed  a  "delicate  part,"  where  not 
only  a  word  too  little,  but  a  word  too  much,  might  have 
spoiled  everything.  The  service  of  that  one  hour  was 
honor  enough  for  a  lifetime,  to  any  man  who  loved  his 
Church  and  its  welfare. 

REV.  HENRY  JACKSON  VAN  DYKE  was  called  within  a 
few  weeks  after  Dr.  Tustin  left  Germantown,  in  July, 
1852,  and  he  was  duly  installed  in  October  following. 
Rev.  Dr.  Neill  took  part  with  Rev.  Dr.  Jacob  Belville 
and  Rev.  Dr.  Robert  Steel,  in  this  installation,  and  Dr. 
Neill  has  left  on  record  the  indications  of  his  warm 
and  helpful  friendship  with  the  new  Pastor. 

Dr.  Van  Dyke  was  born  on  the  outskirts  of  German- 
town,  at  the  corner  of  Washington  Lane  and  the  Old 
York  Road,  in  Abington,  on  March  2d,  1822.  He  gradu- 
ated from  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  in  1843, 
studied  theology  under  Rev.  Albert  Barnes  and  Rev. 
Dr.  Thomas  Brainerd,  and  completed  his  course  at  the 


48  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

Princeton  Seminary  in  1845.  He  went  immediately 
to  Bridgeton,  New  Jersey,  where  he  was  Pastor  from 
1845  to  1852.  He  then  settled  in  German  town,  and 
everything  seemed  to  indicate  for  him  a  permanent 
continuance  here,  but  with  the  sudden  death  of  his  two 
older  children  his  family  life  was  so  shocked  and  dis- 
ordered, that  a  call  to  the  Second  Church  of  Brooklyn, 
New  York,  which  came  just  at  that  juncture,  was 
accepted  by  him  as  Providential,  and  he  left  here  in 
Jtdy,  1853.  He  took  with  him  an  infant  son,  born  in 
German  town,  who  was  named  after  himself  and  is  now 
Dr.  Henry  van  Dyke,  of  Princeton,  so  well  known  in 
literature  and  in  education.  Both  father  and  son  were 
in  turn  Moderators  of  the  General  Assembly. 

It  may  not  be  unsuitable  for  the  present  writer  to 
repeat  in  this  place  some  words  which  he  once  addressed 
to  Presbytery,  with  regard  to  Dr.  Henry  Jackson  Van 
Dyke.  "Dr.  Van  Dyke  was  my  spiritual  guide  when  I 
first  entered  the  Christian  life.  He  counselled  and 
directed  me  through  my  early  studies,  and  expressed 
great  pleasure  when  I  was  invited  to  follow  where  he 
had  himself  been  Pastor.  He  came  to  Germantown 
later  on,  and  married  me.  He  showed  in  every  way  how 
much  he  had  meant  it,  when  he  told  me  to  consider 
myself  as  one  of  his  spiritual  sons  in  the  common  faith." 

By  repeated  exchanges  of  pulpit  and  in  other  ways, 
Dr.  Van  Dyke  showed  to  the  end  of  his  life  that  his 
stay  in  Germantown,  though  so  brief,  was  always  vividly 


his  memory.     Ht  <i 
liome  in  Broc;   ' 

forty  years,  „ 

Systemali  New 

ing  at.  r 

,..  w,  there  %\..  ^  t..  i, 

tb  in  that  Institr 

-^d  keeping  it  in  harmony  witi  ( 

ough  the  Church  »wu  h&c 

V :•.  i  :  .t^aity  of  developmeiiC    •  ..-  ;    ^v   .  ■  '  ' 

come  ^   j^^^  JRW&S^lf^mA%(^-  ^dX,  D.  D. 

was  nevertheless  on  the  eve  of  its  final  n^atuntv.     Tt>? 
longest  pastorate  was  jtist  at  h«?r 

THE  EKV.   JAME*^   ■•    ""     ^^ 


tor  ate    wa 
ordained  and  in: 
and   he   afterward   removed 
Church  at  Easton,  Penna.,  wju; 
was  erected  and  paid  U^-r  Aw'^.n^ 
v-as  installed  in 
father,  Rev.  Dr.  job 


.a  .a 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  49 


in  his  memory.  He  died  suddenly,  May  24th,  1891,  at  his 
home  in  Brooklyn,  where  he  had  been  Pastor  for  almost 
forty  years.  He  had  just  been  elected  a  Professor  of 
Systematic  Theology  in  Union  Seminary,  New  York, 
being  at  the  time  a  Director  in  the  Princeton  Seminary. 
When  informed  of  this  election,  he  said,  ''This  means 
peace;"  and,  in  fact,  there  was  every  reason  to  believe 
that  his  presence  in  that  Institution  would  have  great 
influence  toward  keeping  it  in  harmony  with  our  Church. 
Meantime,  although  the  Church  in  Germantown  had 
lost  that  opportunity  of  development  which  would  have 
come  through  the  continued  stay  of  Dr.  Van  Dyke,  it 
was  nevertheless  on  the  eve  of  its  final  maturity.  Its 
longest  pastorate  was  just  at  hand. 

THE  REV.   JAMES  H.  MASON  KNOX,  D.D.,   was  Pastor  for 

the  next  sixteen  years,  from  September,  1853,  to  July, 
1869.  He  was  born  in  New  York  City,  in  1824,  grad- 
uated at  Columbia  College  in  1841,  and  at  the  Theo- 
logical Seminary  in  New  Brunswick  in  1848,  and  was 
licensed  by  the  Classis  of  New  York.  His  first  pas- 
torate was  at  German  Valley,  N.  J.,  where  he  was 
ordained  and  installed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Newton; 
and  he  afterward  removed  to  the  Reformed  Dutch 
Church  at  Easton,  Penna.,  where  a  fine  church  building 
was  erected  and  paid  for  during  his  stay. 

He  was  installed  in  this  Church  November  9th,  1853, 
his  father,  Rev.  Dr.  John  Knox,  of  the  Collegiate  Re- 
formed Church  in  New  York  City,  preaching  the  sermon, 


50  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

and  Rev.  Roger  Owen,  of  Chestnut  Hill,  giving  the 
charges.  Immediately  after  the  coming  of  Dr.  Knox, 
in  1854,  extensive  alterations  were  made  in  the  church 
building,  so  that  for  the  Sunday  School  and  for  evening 
lectures  there  was  provision  made  in  rooms  separate 
from  the  main  audience  room.  This  was  effected  by 
making  the  edifice  consist  of  two  stories,  instead  of  one 
as  heretofore.  On  the  lower  floor,  beside  the  Pastor's 
Study,  was  the  Sunday  School  or  Lecture  Room,  in 
which  there  still  remained  the  old-fashioned  square 
pews  which  had  been  occupied  so  many  years  in  the 
church  services.  Their  ample  space  was  perhaps  more 
suggestive  than  the  narrower  modern  pews,  of  the  fact 
that  a  church  is  meant  to  consist,  not  of  individuals 
merely,  but  of  families.  The  scriptural  teaching  on  that 
point,  however,  was  not  at  any  time  more  positive  or 
effective  than  during  the  pastorate  in  which  this  change 
was  made. 

The  body  of  Sunday  worshippers  was  thus  brought 
to  the  upper  story,  where  they  were  provided  with  a 
room  of  ample  height,  and  were  placed  at  last  within 
easy  distance  of  the  pulpit,  which  had  in  former  years 
towered  in  the  air  far  above  them.  The  church  building 
was  renewing  its  youth,  and  became  much  more  con- 
venient and  useful  than  before.  A  new  organ  was  built 
in   1865. 

The  improvement  in  its  edifice  may  be  taken  as  an 
indication  of  a  corresponding  access  of  new  life  through- 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  51 


out  the  Church  itself.  One  token  of  this  is  found  in  the 
very  fact  that  these  alterations  were  undertaken  at  a 
cost  of  $7000,  which  was  no  small  sum  for  a  congrega- 
tion such  as  this  had  been.  In  fact,  it  is  one  of  the 
special  features  of  this  pastorate,  frequently  recognized 
as  such,  that  the  spirit  of  liberality  in  giving  to  Christian 
enterprises  was  so  successfully  fostered.  Instead  of 
being,  as  in  its  best  days  up  to  this  time,  barely  self- 
supporting,  or  even  dependent  on  the  Home  Mission 
Board  for  assistance,  the  Church  became  henceforth  a 
generous  giver  to  gospel  work  outside  of  its  own  bounds. 
This  was  not  merely  from  the  new  families  who  were 
attracted  into  its  membership,  but  from  the  patient 
and  faithful  development  of  this  grace  in  the  congre- 
gation at  large.  Contributions  increased  in  far  greater 
proportion  than  did  the  wealth  of  the  people,  and  since 
the  giving  was  made  to  depend  not  on  impulse,  but  on 
Christian  principle,  its  results  in  the  people  have  not 
been  temporary,  but  life-long;  by  no  means  ceasing 
to  bear  fruit  even  after  the  removal  to  another  field 
of  the  hand  which  had  given  this  training.  There  was 
raised  for  religious  purposes,  during  the  pastorate  of 
Dr.  Knox,  somewhat  more  than  $107,000,  of  which 
amount  $63,229  was  sent  to  the  various  Missionary 
Boards  of  the  Church  at  large.  Since  this  came  from 
"growth  in  grace,"  and  not  solely  from  growth  in  riches, 
it  is,  of  course,  good  evidence  of  other  spiritual  progress, 
which  may  not  be  so  easily  described  in  words.     Dr. 


52  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

Knox  received  two  hundred  and  seventy-five  persons 
into  membership,  and  performed  one  hundred  and 
sixty-eight  baptisms. 

Dr.  Knox  resigned  his  pastorate  here  in  July,  1869. 
He  was  afterward  Pastor  at  Bristol,  Pennsylvania,  from 
1873  to  1883,  and  was  President  of  Lafayette  College 
from  1883  to  1890.  Being  then  in  his  sixty-sixth  year, 
he  retired  from  public  office,  and  resided  at  Baltimore, 
Maryland,  until  his  death. 

A  memorial  window,  in  honor  of  Rev.  James  H.  Mason 
Knox,  D.D.,  and  Rev.  W.  J.  Chichester,  D.D.,  was  pre- 
sented to  the  Church  by  Mr.  Charles  Wolcott  Henry, 
and  dedicated  May  15  th,  1904.  An  address  commemo- 
rative of  Dr.  Knox  was  delivered  by  his  successor,  Dr. 
Dripps,  and  one  for  Dr.  Chichester  by  his  successor, 
Dr.    Wood. 

From  the  address  concerning  Dr.  Knox  the  following 
extract  may  fitly  be  repeated  here.  *'It  is  singularly 
appropriate  in  this  case  that  the  figure  on  the  memorial 
window  should  be  that  of  a  veteran  soldier,  laying  down 
his  sword  in  triumph.  Ever  since  his  early  manhood, 
and  increasingly  with  his  added  years,  Dr.  Knox  had  a 
soldierly  appearance.  A  stranger  would  naturally  have 
taken  him  for  an  army  officer  of  high  standing.  He  had 
a  distinctly  erect  and  military  carriage  of  body,  with  a 
strong  and  dignified  face. 

"  He  was  a  man  of  wide  information,  solid  judgment, 
and  the  habit  of  prompt  and  firm  action.     The  com- 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  53 


bination  of  strong  will  and  clear  head,  with  uncommon 
warmth  of  heart,  will  account  for  the  impression  which 
he  made  everywhere.  It  made  him  particularly  valu- 
able as  a  counsellor  and  advisor.  In  point  of  fact,  he 
was  widely  sought  and  consulted,  on  matters  both  pub- 
lic and  private,  down  to  the  very  end  of  his  life. 

"In  this  respect,  as  in  so  many  others,  he  showed 
himself  a  worthy  son  of  worthy  ancestors.  His  father  was 
Rev.  Dr.  John  Knox,  Senior  Pastor  of  the  Collegiate 
Reformed  Church  in  New  York,  and  his  mother's  father 
was  Rev.  Dr.  John  M.  Mason,  whose  name  was  a  house- 
hold word  in  all  the  Churches  two  generations  ago.  Each 
of  these  was  pre-eminently  *a  man  of  affairs,'  though 
Dr.  Mason  was  also  noted  for  his  phenomenal  pulpit 
eloquence.  Above  all  else,  however,  Dr.  Knox  was 
like  both  of  these  ancestors  of  his,  and  like  every  true 
servant  of  Jesus  Christ,  in  simple  modest  piety  and 
goodness. 

"  I  esteem  it  a  chief  honor  of  my  own  life,  that  I  should 
have  spent  ten  years  and  more  in  the  pastorate  of  this 
Church,  between  the  pastorates  of  two  such  men  as 
Dr.  Knox  and  Dr.  Chichester.  Their  memorial  window 
ought  to  be  a  singularly  valuable  asset  of  this  Church, 
and  all  the  more  because  it  will  so  naturally  group  with 
their  names  that  of  their  faithful  friend  and  remem- 
brancer, Charles  Wolcott  Henry." 

The  Eldership  of  T.  Charlton  Henry  calls  here  for 
mention,  as  in  Dr.  Blair's  time  the  services  of  Joseph 


54  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

Miller  in  the  Eldership  have  been  noted,  and  in  Dr. 
Neill's  time  those  of  William  D.  Howard.  Mr.  Henry's 
grandfather,  Alexander  Henry,  was  an  Elder  in  the 
Second  Presbyterian  Church  of  Philadelphia,  and  for 
sixteen  years  the  President  of  the  Presbyterian  Board 
of  Education.  He  was  President  of  the  American  Sun- 
day School  Union,  and  is  described  as  "the  leading 
Christian  and  philanthropist  of  the  entire  community.'* 
Both  of  his  sons,  T.  Charlton  Henry,  D.D.,  of  Charleston, 
South  Carolina,  and  John  Snowden  Henry,  a  Charter 
member  of  this  Church  in  1832,  proved  worthy  of  such 
a  father.  So  it  was  with  his  grandsons,  Alexander  Henry, 
Mayor  of  Philadelphia,  and  T.  Charlton  Henry. 

Mr.  Henry  served  in  the  Eldership  for  the  last  thirty- 
two  years  of  his  life,  being  only  thirty-one  when  elected. 
He  was  at  the  head  of  the  Germantown  Saving  Fund 
for  thirty-six  years,  and  was  active  in  many  other  benev- 
olent enterprises.  He  was  a  founder  and  for  nine  years 
the  Superintendent  of  the  Sunday  School  which  devel- 
oped later  into  the  Wakefield  Presbyterian  Church ;  and 
was  Superintendent  of  our  own  Sunday  School  for  six- 
teen years. 

To  four  pastors  in  succession  he  was  in  special  degree 
"the  trusted  helper  and  counsellor,"  and  his  fellow 
officers,  with  the  entire  congregation,  most  willingly 
showed  him  peculiar  deference  and  regard.  In  the 
development  of  systematic  liberality  in  this  Church, 
his  example  and  active  help  were  of  the  highest  value. 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  55 


It  was  well  saifl  of  him  that  "a  more  conscientious 
j^iver  it  would  he  difficult  to  find."  It  is  not  easy  to 
write  of  him,  precisely  because  he  was  in  so  many  ways 
and  with  such  utter  devotion  a  thorou^^h  K<^)in^'  (chris- 
tian and  Churchman.  He  bequeathed  to  the  official 
service  of  this  Church  and  community  in  the  fourth 
^feneration  four  sons,  of  whom  Charles  Wolcott  IFenry 
continued  in  service  here  until  his  death  in  1903,  while 
Bayard  Henry  and  John  Jackson  ifenry  are  still  active 
members,  and  Rev.  Dr.  Alexander  Henry  is  Secretary 
of  the  Presbyterian  lioard  of  I^iblication  and  Sabbath 
School  Work. 

There  is  not  space  to  deal  adequately  with  iMr.  Henry's 
life,  or  with  that  of  others  who  in  their  own  place  and 
generation  have  served  God  faithfully  as  officxTS  and 
private  members  of  this  Church.  Men,  women  and  chil- 
dren have  here,  as  in  our  sister  churches,  lived  ('hristian 
lives,  and  wrought  righteousness,  and  died  in  the  faith; 
and  have  thus  built  up  the  Body  of  ('hrist  and  hastened 
the  coming  Kingdom.  But  for  them,  our  Leaders  would 
have  had  no  followers,  and  our  Pastors  no  permanent 
flock. 

Among  our  ministers,  three  names  in  particular  stand 
by  themselves  as  those  of  men  who  rendered  the  largf-st 
and  longest-continued  service  to  this  Church :  Dr. 
Blair,  Dr.  Neill  and  Dr.  Knox.  Between  them,  they 
covered  the  entire  sixty  years  from  1809  to  1869.  Dr. 
Blair   passed    on    the   responsibility    to    Dr.    Neill,    and 


56  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

he  in  turn  to  Dr.  Knox.  Though  there  were  other 
pastors,  and  most  helpful  ones  too,  yet  in  large  and 
long  service  to  this  particular  Church,  "they  attained 
not  to  the  first  three." 

These  three  were  men  of  the  same  type.  They  were 
all  of  Scotch  descent,  and  each  of  them  was  a  man  of 
distinction,  not  only  as  a  courteous  and  refined  gentle- 
man of  the  old  school,  but  also  for  scholarly  attain- 
ments, and  above  all  for  personal  piety.  Moreover, 
all  three  were  men  of  native  practical  ability,  and  trained 
experts  in  ecclesiastical  life  and  law.  Dr.  Neill  was 
Stated  Clerk  of  the  General  Assembly  for  years,  and 
either  of  the  others  could  have  filled  that  position 
admirably.  They  trusted  in  God  like  little  children, 
and  they  served  Him  like  veterans.  Each  in  his  turn 
gave  to  this  Church  for  long  years  the  benefit  of  abili- 
ties which  were  shown  elsewhere,  and  on  a  larger  scale, 
to  be  of  high  order.  There  was,  therefore,  a  singular 
unity  after  all,  in  the  controlling  influences  which 
moulded  the  life  of  this  Church  through  all  the  many 
changes  of  these  sixty  years. 

Of  all  the  pastors  up  to  the  year  1869,  not  one  remains 
yet  alive.  They  deserve  much  larger  notice  than  it  is 
possible  to  give  them  within  these  brief  pages.  We 
are  thankful  to  know  that  they  are  not  dependent  for 
reward  or  appreciation  upon  us;  that  there  is  a  record 
on  high,  wherein  is  no  omission,  a  Master  who  is  not 
unjust  to  forget  their  "work  and  labor  of  love."    Theirs 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  57 


is  the  fame  which  is  not  confined  to  earth,  where  it 
can  only  sound  over  their  unhearing  bodies;  but  that 
which  comes  to  their  glorified  spirits,  from  the  souls 
whom  they  led  after  them  to  heaven,  and  from  the  blessed 
angels,  and  from  that  King  whose  generous  praise  is 
given  to  every  good  and  faithful  servant.  Not  because 
they  need  it,  but  for  our  own  sakes,  do  we  call  to  mind 
their  work  in  the  cause  of  this  Church;  so  patient  and 
persevering  through  trials  and  difficulties  which  we 
know  to  have  been  neither  few  nor  small.  The  high 
regard  in  which  they  were  held  by  the  community  at 
large,  as  men  of  unusual  ability  and  devoted  earnest- 
ness, was  itself  no  small  help  to  the  Church. 

The  field  in  which  they  labored  bears  a  very  different 
aspect  in  our  day  from  that  which  it  then  presented. 
Instead  of  being  a  lovely  but  somewhat  remote  country 
village,  inhabited  largely  by  men  speaking  a  foreign 
tongue,  Germantown  has  become  an  integral  part  of 
Philadelphia  itself.  It  was  always  attractive  and  com- 
paratively populous.  Before  the  Revolution  it  is  said  to 
have  had  ''more  houses  and  people  than  any  other  town 
in  the  Province,  except  Philadelphia  and  Lancaster." 
There  were  hardly  more  than  2000  inhabitants,  however, 
when  this  Church  was  organized.  In  1830  Germantown 
claimed  to  have  4000  inhabitants.  The  growth  in  later 
years  was  far  more  rapid. 

The  change  from  its  foreign  aspect  was  very  gradual. 
In   1709  the  English  Government  refused  to  continue 


58  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

its  land-owners  in  possession  of  their  land  unless  they 
became  naturalized.  In  speech  and  habits  they  were 
found  to  be  still  German,  even  in  1793,  when  the  National 
Government,  with  Washington  at  its  head,  came  to 
Germantown  for  a  time,  to  escape  the  yellow  fever  in 
Philadelphia.  From  that  time  onward,  however,  so 
many  English-speaking  residents  came  in,  that  the 
inevitable  change  began;  a  change  with  which  this 
Church,  as  we  have  seen,  had  much  to  do.  It  is  inter- 
esting to  read  Watson's  description  of  the  place  in  those 
days,  ''with  its  houses  of  dark  moss-grown  stone,  and 
of  sombre  and  prison-like  aspect,  with  little  old-fashioned 
windows,  and  monstrous  corner  chimneys  formed  of 
stone;"  and  of  its  being  such  a  "very  long  town,"  its 
houses  in  little  groups  with  intervals  between,  for  several 
miles  along  the  road;  this  road  itself  being  in  a  very 
bad  condition  generally,  so  that  most  of  the  travel  was 
on  horseback.  And  yet,  within  sixteen  years  after  the 
date  of  which  he  writes,  it  was  connected  with  Phila- 
delphia (in  1831)  by  railway,  though  not  incorporated 
as  the  Twenty-second  Ward  of  this  City  until  the 
year    1854. 

In  these  various  ways,  so  great  a  change  of  popula- 
tion was  effected,  that  church  life  became  very  different 
from  what  it  previously  had  been.  Comparatively 
few  of  the  old  German  families  were  to  be  found  in  this 
congregation  in  1869,  and  it  was  no  longer  the  only 
Presbyterian    Church    in    the    place.      Partly    from    its 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  59 


membership  there  had  been  formed,  in  1852,  the  Chest- 
nut Hill  Church,  and,  in  1857,  the  Second  Church  of 
German  town.  In  1856  the  old  German  Reformed 
Church  became  Presbyterian  also,  taking  the  name  of 
"The  Market  Square  Presbyterian  Church.'*  It  con- 
nected itself  with  the  New  School  body,  the  other  three 
churches  being  Old  School. 

The  year  1869  marks  a  dividing  line  in  the  history 
of  this  congregation,  as  really  as  it  does  for  the  Presby- 
terian Church  at  large.  It  brought  not  merely  a  passing 
from  one  pastorate  to  another,  but  many  other  changes. 
There  was  a  change  of  place ;  and  the  new  church  build- 
ing stands  as  in  part  a  solid  thank-offering  for  the  Re- 
union between  Old  and  New  Schools.  It  is  so  reported 
on  the  list  of  items  in  the  ''Seven  Million  Dollar  Fund" 
of  1870.  The  Re-union  made  an  impression  at  the 
time,  which  was  far  deeper  and  more  widespread  than 
might  nowadays  be  supposed.  Not  a  few  of  the  further 
developments  in  our  Church  life  at  that  time,  were 
connected  more  or  less  closely  with  this  great  Denomi- 
national event.  As  when  our  old  Church  building  was 
erected,  so  at  the  erection  of  this  second  structure, 
there  was  a  spring-tide  all  abroad,  in  whose  results  we 
also  had  our  part. 

REV.  J.  FREDERIC  DRIPPS  was  invited  to  supply  the 
pulpit  in  October,  1869,  and  shortly  afterward  ar- 
rangements   were    commenced    for   having    him    called 


60  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

to  the  pastoral  charge;  but  at  his  own  request  this 
was  postponed  for  a  month,  to  enable  more  intelligent 
action  on  both  sides.  At  the  expiration  of  this  time  he 
was  given  the  call  unanimously,  on  January  3d,  1870. 

He  was  born  at  Philadelphia  in  1844,  of  Scotch-Irish 
parentage.  He  graduated  at  the  University  of  New 
York  in  1863,  and  at  the  Princeton  Theological  Semi- 
nary in  1868.  In  the  interval  which  elapsed  after  grad- 
uation, and  before  coming  to  Germantown,  he  had 
preached  for  six  months,  during  the  Pastor's  absence^ 
in  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Indianapolis,  and 
afterward  for  eight  months  in  the  American  Presbyte- 
rian Church  of  Montreal,  Canada.  He  was  ordained 
and  installed  in  Germantown,  March  7th,  1870,  Rev. 
Dr.  J.  A.  Beggs  presiding  as  Moderator  of  the  Presby- 
tery; Rev.  Dr.  John  Hall,  of  New  York,  preaching  the 
sermon.  Rev.  Dr.  John  Withrow  (then  of  Philadelphia) 
giving  the  charge  to  the  Pastor,  and  Rev.  Dr.  T.  C. 
Murphy,  of  Frankford,  giving  that  to  the  people. 

During  this  pastorate  three  hundred  and  forty-eight 
persons  were  received  into  communion  with  the  Church, 
of  whom  two  hundred  and  twenty  came  on  confession 
of  faith.  The  communicants  reported  in  1869  nimibered 
two  hundred  and  sixty-six,  and  in  1880  there  were  four 
hundred  and  three.  The  Sunday-school  attendants,  in 
1869,  numbered  two  hundred,  and  there  were  nine  hun- 
dred and  one  in  1880.  Two  of  our  members  had  been 
ordained  to  the  Gospel  Ministry. 


i^ 


^il   tile 

time  to  the 
:fee  ser. 

Tapart 
one  at      . 
.:nd  a  chapel  bv 
ognized  as  the  beginning? 
;  Church,  and  of  the  Chiiuii  vvi 
of  establishmrn^   ■  --    the   east   - 

reorganization  of   the  Sunday  School, 
'd  also  o.   tl''j  'Work  for  ?.Kjn'"   hnd  the  "Work  for 


'ew  rents 

■re  ciborsiied,  and  voluiitary  subscriptions  were  sue- 
ssfuUy    substituted    for   them,    to   mec;t   all    current 
penses  year  by  year,  and  to  defray  the  cost  of  a  i^w 
uirch  building.     No  debt  was  left  unpaid,  eitb 
3  building,  or  on  any  other  Church  enterprise. 
■  of  these  items  evidently  call  for 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  61 


At  the  end  of  this  pastorate  the  Church  was  support- 
ing a  ''Bible-reader"  or  Parish  Visitor,  a  "Chapel  Min- 
ister" at  Somerville  (who  gave  his  whole  time  to  the 
work,  and  conducted  three  services  weekly),  and  also 
a  Foreign  Missionary  in  Japan.  Two  Mission  stations 
had  been  established,  one  at  "  Pulaskiville"  and  the 
other  at  Somerville,  and  a  chapel  built  for  each  of  them. 
These  will  be  recognized  as  the  beginnings  of  the  West- 
side  Presbyterian  Church,  and  of  the  Church  which  is 
now  in  process  of  establishment  on  the  east  side  of 
Germantown. 

There  was  a  reorganization  of  the  Sunday  School, 
and  also  of  the  "Work  for  Men"  and  the  "Work  for 
Women" — the  latter  being  known  as  "The  Pastoral 
Aid  Society." 

The  gifts  of  this  Church  for  religious  and  benevolent 
purposes,  from  1869  to  1880,  were  $188,746,  of  which 
$90,491  were  for  objects  outside  of  the  congregation 
itself.  It  should  be  remembered  that  this  period  in- 
cluded one  of  the  great  panics  in  the  business  world, 
with  several  years  of  financial  depression.  Pew  rents 
were  abolished,  and  voluntary  subscriptions  were  suc- 
cessfully substituted  for  them,  to  meet  all  current 
expenses  year  by  year,  and  to  defray  the  cost  of  a  new 
Church  building.  No  debt  was  left  unpaid,  either  on 
the  building,  or  on  any  other  Church  enterprise. 

Several  of  these  items  evidently  call  for  a  more  com- 
plete statement. 


62  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

The  new  House  of  Worship  was  one  of  the  earliest 
achievements  in  this  period.  It  is  cause  for  sincere 
thankfulness  to  God,  that  we  can  ascribe  to  His  own 
grace  and  guidance  this  building;  even  as  we  can  trace 
to  Him  the  origin  of  the  former  btiilding,  of  the  congre- 
gation itself,  and  of  the  very  community  in  which  it 
is  situated. 

In  April,  1870,  the  spiritual  influence  of  the  Com- 
munion season  continued  to  show  itself  in  a  perma- 
nently increased  attendance  at  the  usual  weekly  prayer 
meetings,  to  an  extent  which  called  for  increased  accom- 
modations in  the  lecture  room.  A  collection  was  made 
for  this  purpose  on  the  first  of  May.  On  the  17th  of 
May,  the  Trustees  met  to  arrange  for  executing  the 
work,  but  found  themselves  planning  so  many  other 
improvements,  that  they  were  led  to  think  seriously 
of  erecting  an  entirely  new  edifice.  This  project  had 
encountered  so  many  obstacles  whenever  considered 
previously,  that  the  expectation  of  success  was  not  at 
all  sanguine. 

One  great  difficulty  had  always  been  that  of  finding 
the  proper  site.  The  lot  occupied  by  the  old  building 
was  too  irregular  in  shape  to  be  desirable,  and  its  value 
for  business  purposes  made  its  sale  expedient.  It  was 
not  easy,  however,  to  find  a  new  site,  satisfactory  in 
other  respects,  which  would  be  convenient  for  this 
widely-scattered  congregation,  without  interfering  with 
any  other  Church.     At  this  precise  juncture  a  property 


IN   GERMANTOWN.  63 


was  offered  for  the  purpose  in  a  manner  which  we  cer- 
tainly had  warrant  for  considering  Providential.  Its 
owner  sent  us  word  that,  although  not  herself  a  Church 
member,  she  felt  a  strong  desire  in  her  old  age  to  haA^e 
a  Church  near  enough  for  her  to  catch  the  sound  of  its 
worship  from  her  own  room,  and  that  for  this  purpose 
she  was  willing  to  sell  us  at  a  moderate  price,  a  large 
strip  from  her  own  garden. 

As  the  site  was  entirely  convenient  for  the  congre- 
gation, was  on  an  Avenue  as  desirable  as  any  in  Ger- 
mantown,  and  was  satisfactory  in  all  other  respects, 
the  offer  was  accepted.  The  congregation  formally 
authorized  the  sale  of  the  old  property  and  purchase 
of  the  new  one,  July  11th,  1870.  The  Fall  was  spent  in 
procuring  suitable  plans  for  the  building.  The  general 
plans  furnished  by  Mr.  James  H.  Windrim,  the  archi- 
tect, being  selected,  the  matter  was  formally  laid  before 
the  congregation  by  the  Pastor,  on  Sunday,  December 
11th,  1870,  and  within  the  week  the  sum  of  $20,000  was 
subscribed.  This  amount,  in  addition  to  the  value  of 
the  old  property,  gave  so  solid  a  fotmdation  pecuniarily, 
that  Building  and  Finance  Committees  were  appointed 
at  once,  and  went  vigorously  to  work. 

On  the  Building  Committee  were  Messrs.  T.  Charlton 
Henry,  William  Adamson,  Thomas  MacKellar,  Enoch 
Taylor,  Woodruff  Jones,  and  Thomas  H.  Garrett; 
Messrs.  Henry,  Adamson,  and  MacKellar  being  given 
personal  supervision  of  the  work. 


64  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

The  Finance  Committee  consisted  of  Messrs.  James 
Garrett,  James  Kinnier,  Dr.  G.  H.  Burgin,  Jonathan 
Graham,  Chas.  W.  Henry  and  W.  B.  MacKellar. 

February  16th,  1871,  the  contract  was  let  to  Messrs. 
James  Kinnier  and  Sons,  and  early  in  March  ground 
was  broken.  The  nature  of  the  soil  threatened  to  pre- 
vent the  securing  of  a  good  foundation,  but  a  solid  rock 
foundation  was  at  last  secured  for  the  whole  building. 
From  that  time  everything  went  on  prosperously,  even 
in  little  things.  The  stone,  which  was  from  a  newly- 
opened  quarry,  was  excellent;  all  the  other  materials 
proved  satisfactory,  and  the  different  classes  of  work- 
men made  such  close  connection  one  with  another  that 
no  time  was  lost  through  delays.  No  injury  to  life 
or  limb  was  permitted;  and  the  contractors,  by  their 
faithful  and  disinterested  exertions,  showed  plainly 
that  their  chief  aim  was  to  present  the  Church,  of  which 
they  had  so  long  been  members,  with  an  edifice  which 
wotdd  be  found  thoroughly  substantial  and  satisfying. 

Not  only  in  the  contractors  and  the  Building  Com- 
mittee and  the  larger  subscribers,  but  throughout  the 
whole  mass  of  the  congregation,  a  spirit  of  zeal  and 
devotion  was  manifest.  All  contributions  were  volun- 
tary; no  extraneous  means  were  needed;  the  sending 
out  blank  subscription  cards  secured  abundant  returns. 
The  liberality  of  these  gifts  on  the  part  of  all  classes  was 
the  more  noticeable,  because  of  the  fact  that  no  other 
part  of  church  activity  was  suffered  to  lag  on  account 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  65 


of  this.  It  was  indeed  a  period  of  unusual  energy  in 
all  kinds  of  Christian  work.  The  pleasure  experienced 
from  the  unity  and  good  feeling  of  the  congregation 
itself,  was  almost  equalled  by  that  which  came  from  the 
kindly  interest  and  sympathy  of  the  other  churches, 
and  of  the  community  in  general. 

An  additional  favor  was  shown  in  enabling  us  to 
dispose  of  the  old  building  in  a  way  unusually  satis- 
factory. It  was  sold  to  the  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association  of  German  town,  under  circumstances  exceed- 
ingly pleasant  and  gratifying  to  both  parties.  In  short, 
the  Lord  gave  help  and  guidance  in  every  direction,  far 
beyond  what  could  have  been  anticipated. 

On  the  morning  of  Sunday,  May  12th,  1872,  the  sub- 
stance of  the  foregoing  sketch  was  given  to  the  con- 
gregation by  the  Pastor,  in  preparation  for  the  farewell 
service  in  the  old  building,  which  was  held  on  the  same 
evening.  The  new  lecture  room  was  used  during  the 
next  week  for  a  prayer  meeting  on  Wednesday,  and  a 
social  meeting  on  Friday. 

Sunday  morning,  May  19th,  1872,  the  first  service  was 
held  in  |the  Church  proper,  its  object  being  to  recognize 
this  house  as  a  gift  from  God  to  us;  in  the  evening  we 
solemnly  gave  it  again  to  Him  at  the  dedication  service. 

On  this  occasion  the  ministers  in  the  pulpit  were: 
J.  H.  M.  Knox,  D.D.,  R.  D.  Harper,  D.D.,  E.  P.  Cowan, 
and  A.  McCuUagh,  with  the  Pastor  of  the  Church, 
while    the    congregations    of    the    Market    Square,    and 


66  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

the  Second  Presb3rterian  Churches,  and  of  Trinity 
Lutheran  Church,  combined  with  our  own  to  produce 
an  audience  which  filled  not  only  the  pews,  but  the 
aisles  and  every  passage  and  entrance  hall.  The  Dedi- 
catory Prayer  was  offered  by  the  Pastor,  and  the  Ser- 
mon preached  by  the  Rev.  Robert  D.  Harper,  D.D., 
from  Haggai  2:9;  Rev.  Dr.  Knox  closing  with  the 
benediction  from  Numbers  7 :  24-26. 

A  brief  description  of  the  edifice  as  it  then  stood  was 
given  in  the  following  words: — 

"It  is  situated  on  the  north  side  of  Chelten  Avenue, 
about  two  hundred  feet  west  of  German  town  Avenue, 
and  consists  of  a  church  proper  with  transverse  build- 
ing in  the  rear  for  lecture  room,  etc.  The  entire  length 
is  one  hundred  and  thirty-seven  feet,  and  the  extreme 
width  eighty-eight  feet;  the  apex  of  the  roof  rising 
sixty-six  feet  from  the  ground,  and  the  spire  one  hun- 
dred and  fift}^  feet.  The  masonry  is  of  gneiss  rock 
with  selected  facings.  Two  vestibules,  at  opposite  cor- 
ners of  the  front,  afford  entrance  to  the  church  proper, 
which  is  eighty  feet  long,  fifty-nine  feet  wide,  and  forty- 
four  in  height  to  the  apex  of  the  ceiling.  The  organ  and 
choir  occupy  a  raised  platform  in  the  alcove  between 
the  two  front  vestibules,  the  pulpit  alcove  being  at  the 
opposite  end  of  the  room.  Abundant  light  is  secured 
during  the  day  by  the  large  double  windows  on  each 
side,  and  the  rose  window  in  front,  forty  feet  in  cir- 
cumference;   and  at  night  by  two  large  reflectors  just 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  67 


below  the  apex  of  the  ceiling,  containing  thirty-six 
burners  in  each.  The  whole  interior  finish  is  conformed 
in  detail  to  the  style  of  the  building,  which  is  Gothic, 
of  the  early  decorated  type. 

**The  woodwork,  including  pulpit  and  organ  case, 
doors  and  wainscoting,  pews  and  furniture,  is  of  black 
walnut,  finished  in  oil  with  smooth  gloss. 

"The  rear  building  contains  on  the  ground  floor  a 
lecture  room,  and  infant-school  room;  on  the  second 
floor,  the  main  Sunday-school  room,  which  is  a  large 
and  lofty  hall.  Opening  from  this  are  the  Pastor's 
Study  and  the  Ladies'  Parlor,  over  which  is  a  gallery 
with  alcoves  for  the  Bible  Classes.  The  whole  effect  of 
this  floor  is  unusually  pleasing. 

"Especial  care  has  been  given  to  the  ventilation: 
among  the  means  which  are  used  being  ducts  which  have 
perforated  openings  through  the  floor,  and  communicate 
with  a  large  ventilating  shaft,  perforated  openings  in 
the  ceilings,  which  can  be  regulated  or  closed  at  will, 
the  usual  flues  in  the  walls,  etc.  The  architect  was 
James  H.  Windrim,  Esq.,  of  Philadelphia.  A  new 
organ,  valued  at  $4300,  was  constructed  by  the  Messrs. 
Standbridge,  of  Philadelphia,  under  the  supervision  of 
Mr.  Woodruff  Jones,  in  readiness  for  the  Dedication 
Services." 

The  total  valuation  of  the  property  was  a  trifle  short 
of  $80,000.  Of  this  amount  $21,564  came  from  the  sale 
of  the  old  building  and  organ,  and  $48,732  was  paid  in 


68  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

cash  by  the  congregation.  The  ground  was  taken  subject 
to  a  mortgage,  with  several  years  to  run  before  maturity. 

The  arrangements  were  so  made  that  payments  were 
distributed  over  two  or  three  successive  years,  when 
the  entire  cost  of  building  and  furniture  was  paid  in 
full.  This  was  almost  wholly  accomplished  by  those 
who  had  been  with  us  when  the  work  began,  for  during 
the  execution  of  such  an  enterprise  the  Church  could 
hardly  expect  to  receive  any  large  accessions  to  its 
membership  from  outside.  Those  who  did  join  us  at 
that  time,  however,  took  up  at  once  their  full  share 
with  the  rest.  Subscriptions  were  made  at  the  begin- 
ning of  each  year  during  the  work,  being  sent  to  the 
Trustees  upon  cards  furnished  for  that  purpose.  Pay- 
ments were  made  in  advance  either  weekly,  monthly 
or  quarterly,  as  preferred  by  the  subscriber.  And  they 
came  from  all  classes,  rich  and  poor,  adults  and  chil- 
dren. More  than  one  family,  from  whom  five  dollars 
would  have  been  counted  a  fair  gift,  sent  in  this  way 
over  fifty  dollars  in  weekly  instalments. 

No  fairs  were  held  and  no  appeals  made,  except  the 
mere  statement  from  time  to  time,  usually  but  once 
a  year,  of  the  amount  needed;  and  so  far  as  the  Pastor 
was  concerned,  these  annual  statements  included  all 
the  service  which  was  asked  of  him,  in  connection  with 
the  raising  of  the  money. 

In  addition  to  the  money  which  was  thus  cheerfully 
given,    even    during   the   time   of   commercial    disaster 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  69 


which  came  on  before  the  payments  were  finished, 
many  valuable  gifts  were  presented  by  different  mem- 
bers, in  token  of  special  interest  and  affection.  Alto- 
gether the  erection  of  this  building  was  not  only  a  fruit 
of  grace,  but  very  decidedly  a  means  of  grace  in  every 
way.  There  were  only  grateful  and  pleasant  associations 
connected  with  it. 

A  change  of  plan  for  meeting  the  current  annual 
expenses  was  adopted  before  entering  the  new  edifice. 
On  the  3d  of  April,  1872,  after  the  Pastor  had  proposed 
the  new  plan  and  explained  it  at  two  meetings,  in  suc- 
cessive weeks,  the  congregation  voted  to  adopt  it.  Each 
member  was  thereafter  to  decide  for  himself  how  much 
he  would  pay  toward  church  expenses,  instead  of  hav- 
ing it  decided  for  him  by  the  committee  on  pew  rents. 
It  was  agreed  that  each  family  attending  the  church 
should  be  assigned  a  permanent  seat  or  pew,  on  which 
their  name  should  be  kept  so  long  as  they  continued 
regularly  to  occupy  it.  The  ownership  and  control  of 
each  pew,  however,  remained  with  the  Church  itself, 
and  not  with  the  occupant;  no  person  had  any  claim 
upon  a  seat  beyond  the  time  during  which  he  regularly 
used  it.  No  price  was  charged  for  a  seat,  and  no  rent 
was  assessed.  Each  regular  attendant  was,  of  course, 
expected  to  bear  his  own  share  of  the  common  expense, 
but  it  was  left  to  the  person  himself  to  decide  what 
that  share  was.  At  the  beginning  of  each  year  a  printed 
estimate    of  the  amount  which  would  be  required  for 


70  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

the  next  twelve  months,  was  distributed  among  the 
congregation,  and  then  a  blank  subscription  card  was 
sent  to  each  person.  These  cards  were  filled  out  by 
the  persons  themselves,  who  thereby  undertook,  "so 
far  as  God  should  enable  them,  to  pay  a  certain  amount 
each  week  or  month,  or  quarter,  during  the  year,"  but 
the  contents  of  these  subscription  cards  were  not  made 
public.  The  money  was  paid  at  the  beginning  of  each 
week  or  month,  by  enclosing  the  proper  amount  in  one 
of  the  envelopes  sent  for  the  purpose  (each  of  them 
having  upon  it  certain  figures  which  indicated  to  the 
Treasurer  whose  it  was),  and  dropping  the  envelope 
into  the  box  near  the  entrance  door  of  the  church. 
Men  were  not  asked  to  pay  rent  to  their  landlord,  but 
to  bring  free-will  offerings  to  their  Divine  Saviour. 
The  appeal  was  successful. 

In  the  first  year,  instead  of  $2000,  which  had  been 
the  largest  sum  ever  paid  for  pew  rents,  some  $4600 
were  subscribed  and  paid;  next  year  the  amount  was 
$5600,  and  it  continued  to  be  from  $5500  to  $6000. 
Great  satisfaction  was  felt  with  this  plan.  It  prevented 
any  possibility  of  having  pews  in  the  house  of  God  sold 
like  real  estate  in  the  public  market,  to  buyers  who 
might  have  none  but  a  pecuniary  interest  in  them. 
It  retained  full  control  over  every  seat  in  the  hands  of 
the  Church  itself.  When  the  total  amount  subscribed 
proved  inadequate,  a  statement  to  that  effect  was  made 
to  the  whole  congregation,  and  an  increase  of  so  much 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  71 


per  cent,  on  each  subscription  requested.  The  response 
to  this  appeal  also  was  entirely  voluntary,  but  it  proved 
none  the  less  reliable  on  that  account.  The  poor  did 
give  according  to  their  ability,  and  those  of  more  com- 
fortable means,  instead  of  preparing  to  meet  a  deficit, 
prevented  one,  by  increasing  their  contributions  in 
advance. 

Another  subject  closely  connected  with  this,  which 
also  received  careful  attention  for  some  years,  was  that 
of  ** systematic  beneficence;"  t.  e.,  the  collecting  of 
money,  not  for  the  operations  of  the  congregation  itself, 
but  for  outside  objects  of  a  missionary  or  charitable 
natiu*e.  The  re-union  between  Old  School  and  New 
School  was  followed  by  many  new  plans  to  increase 
and  systematize  benevolent  contributions.  So  far  as 
this  particular  church  is  concerned,  we  decided  to  make 
no  change  in  our  methods.  One  Sunday  in  the  year 
was  designated  for  a  collection  in  behalf  of  each  of  those 
regtdar  objects  of  benevolence,  which  are  under  the 
charge  of  the  Boards  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Notice 
was  always  given  to  the  congregation  on  the  preceding 
Sunday,  and  a  careful  explanation  of  the  object  for 
which  money  was  asked  was  given  at  the  time  by  the 
Pastor.  The  contributions  were  received  in  plates 
handed  around  as  usual,  and  before  being  finally  sent 
off,  the  collection  was  retained  in  the  Treasurer's  hands 
for  a  week,  in  order  that  any  persons  who  were  not 
present  at  the  time  might  send  in  their  gifts  to  him. 


72  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

This  latter  opportunity  was  constantly  used,  and  the 
plate  collection  considerably  increased  by  the  sums 
voluntarily  sent  in  by  those  who  were  absent  or  unpre- 
pared when  it  was  taken.  It  was  found  by  experience 
that  this  plan  commended  itself  by  its  results,  better 
than  some  far  more  elaborate  methods  which  were 
proposed  to  us;  and  it  should  be  understood  that  our 
disinclination  to  change  was  the  result,  not  at  all  of 
neglecting  to  examine  these  other  plans,  but  of  finding 
them  not  so  satisfactory  to  us  as  the  old  way. 

Methods  of  Church  work  were  largely  affected  by 
that  re-union  of  the  Old  School  and  the  New  School 
Presbyterians,  in  1869,  which  has  already  been  men- 
tioned. Our  people  everywhere  were  frequently  re- 
minded that  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  having  Himself 
the  supreme  authority,  had  so  committed  the  exercise 
of  this  authority  in  each  particular  Church  to  the  whole 
congregation,  as  that  it  should  under  His  guidance 
elect  representative  officers,  and  should  through  these 
representatives  direct  its  common  work.  Represen- 
tative government  was,  of  course,  very  familiar  to  them 
from  their  experience  as  citizens,  though  in  reality  the 
nation  owed  this  idea  to  the  Church  rather  than  the 
Church  to  the  nation.  They  could  see  for  themselves 
the  harm  which  had  resulted,  where  scattered  groups 
of  workers  were  carrying  on  various  enterprises  in  a 
congregation,  with  small  regard  for  one  another,  or  for 
Church  authority.     There  was  great  practical  need  for 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  73 


bringing  the  various  activities  of  each  congregation 
under  the  more  immediate  guidance  and  leadership 
of  the  "Session."  Consisting  as  it  does  of  the  Pastor 
as  representing  not  only  the  congregation,  but  also  the 
Presbytery  and  the  Church  at  large,  combined  with 
the  Elders  representing  more  particularly  their  own 
congregation,  the  "Session"  was  declared  to  be  the 
chief  organized  authority  and  official  leader  of  the  whole 
people  and  of  all  their  work  and  worship. 

In  our  own  Church  there  was  no  special  need  of  such 
instruction,  but  there  was,  of  course,  room  for  much 
greater  efficiency  in  the  actual  operation  of  the  system; 
and  the  constant  repetition  of  such  teachings  on  every 
side  was  distinctly  influential  in  the  organizing  of  our 
people  for  Christian  work. 

One  of  the  most  frequent  causes  of  trouble  in  other 
Churches  at  that  time  was  the  friction  between  Elders 
and  Trustees  and  other  officers,  which  so  often  attended 
upon  this  lack  of  recognized  orderly  relations.  It  is, 
therefore,  a  matter  for  profound  gratitude  to  God, 
that  in  our  own  case  there  was  such  entire  peace  and 
good  will,  and  such  ready  co-operation.  No  man  could 
well  expect  or  desire  more  readiness  to  co-operate  than 
was  shown  by  all  the  organizations  in  this  Church  toward 
their  Pastor — by  the  Elders  when  he  asked  them  to 
bear  a  large  increase  in  their  burden  of  responsibility, 
by  the  Trustees  when  he  asked  them  (in  spite  of  their 
own  serious  doubt  at  the  time)  to  try  the  experiment 


74  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

of  giving  up  pew-rents  and  taking  to  free-will  sub- 
scriptions, and  by  the  ladies  when  he  asked  them  to 
merge  societies  which  they  imderstood  and  devotedly 
loved,  into  a  new  organization  which  at  first  perplexed 
them  not  a  little. 

The  Session  agreed  to  hold  frequent  and  regular 
meetings,  at  which  definite  consideration  should  be 
given  to  each  organization  and  to  each  member  in  the 
Church.  The  Parish  was  divided  into  districts,  each 
of  which  was  assigned  to  one  particular  Elder,  and 
report  was  made  regularly  concerning  each  of  the  fami- 
lies in  every  district.  All  our  various  organizations 
were  brought  into  touch  with  the  Session,  so  that  their 
interests  might  receive  its  sympathetic  consideration 
and  help.  Deacons  were  not  appointed,  simply  because 
the  duties  which  would  have  fallen  to  them  were  already 
so  well  performed  by  certain  "Elect  Ladies,"  who  were 
really  unordained  deaconesses. 

The  Sunday  School,  which  had  been  in  operation  for 
the  fifty  years  since  1819,  presented,  of  course,  the 
most  obvious  and  important  field  for  both  sexes  and 
all  ages.  It  was  not  considered  to  be  what  many  an- 
other school  then  was,  a  separate  and  independent 
organization,  but  rather  to  be  the  same  thing  as  the 
Church  itself,  met  for  the  special  purpose  of  Bible  study 
with  its  young  people. 

The  Sunday  School  Association  was  reorganized, 
with  the  Pastor  as  ex  officio  President  and  the  Super- 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  75 


intendent  as  Vice-President.  Steps  were  taken  toward 
having  the  expenses  of  the  school  met  by  the  Church 
at  large,  so  that  the  children  might  be  trained  to  bring 
gifts  for  missions  and  other  benevolent  causes,  instead 
of  finding  themselves  required  to  pay  for  their  own 
schooling.  School  affairs  were  brought  repeatedly  to 
the  notice  of  the  Session  and  of  the  Church.  The  teach- 
ings in  the  school  were  supplemented  by  regular  monthly 
sermons  to  the  children,  accompanied  by  recitations, 
for  which  they  were  trained  by  the  Pastor,  in  the  course 
of  his  weekly  visits  to  the  school. 

The  Mission  work  at  Pulaskiville,  since  1870,  and  at 
Somerville,  since  1874,  indicated  a  most  attractive  and 
useful  broadening  of  the  Sunday-school  field.  Both 
schools  were  founded,  and  largely  supported,  in  con- 
nection with  our  Woman's  Work,  but,  of  course,  the 
whole  congregation  was  represented  in  the  enterprise. 

The  Men's  Work  of  the  Church  was  not  forgotten. 
In  the  year  1870  a  Young  Men's  Society  was  formed, 
and  our  yoimg  men  not  only  continued  to  hold  prayer 
meetings  for  men,  and  to  extend  the  hospitality  of  the 
Church  to  visitors,  but  they  also  co-operated  with  the 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association  of  Germantown 
and  later  on  conducted  various  kinds  of  work  at  the  Mis- 
sion Chapels.  In  1878  Young  Men's  Society-meetings 
were  held  monthly,  accompanied  by  illustrated  lectures, 
concerts,  etc.  Fifty  of  the  young  men  were  present  at 
the  first  of  these  meetings,  which  continued  to  be  sue- 


76  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 


cessful  and  beneficial.  Mr.  J.  Addison  Campbell  was  at 
this  time  the  President  of  the  Society. 

It  will  of  course  be  remembered,  not  only  that  the 
most  important  part  of  all  our  Church  work  was  under- 
taken by  those  men  who  acted  as  Elders  and  Trustees, 
or  as  Building  Committee  and  Committee  on  Finance, 
but  also  that  much  of  the  Women's  work  was  largely 
aided  by  the  men,  through  gifts  and  through  active 
service,  and  moreover  that  what  gifts  were  made  or 
work  done  by  the  congregation  in  general,  came  largely 
from  the  men. 

It  was  furthermore  true,  then,  as  at  other  times  of 
emergency,  that  many  a  man  of  this  Church  did  a  man's 
work  for  Christ  in  the  public  life  of  business  and  politics 
and  social  reform.  This  may  suitably  be  mentioned 
in  a  Church  history,  because  these  men  declared  ex- 
plicitly that  they  found  in  the  Church  much  of  the  in- 
spiration which  kept  them  faithful  to  Christ  amid  worldly 
surroundings.  But  when  all  this  is  granted,  fully  and 
heartily,  it  is  undoubtedly  the  case,  that  the  day  for 
full  and  complete  service  from  masculine  energies,  was 
not  yet  come. 

The  Women's  Work  of  the  Church  was  that  which 
most  distinctly  called  for  enlargement  and  rearrangement ; 
not  because  it  was  especially  defective,  but  precisely 
because  it  was  so  full  of  life,  and  so  ready  for  more  and 
larger  enterprises.  The  Pastor  therefore  called  the 
women  of  the  Church  to  meet  for  this  purpose,  and  laid 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  77 


before  them  a  plan  for  the  organization  of  a  Women's 
Union,  which  they  at  once  adopted,  and  to  which  they 
gave  the  name  of  ''Pastoral  Aid  Society."  This  was 
in  April,  1870,  and  the  first  business  meeting  was  held 
in  May  of  the  same  year. 

There  was  already  in  existence  a  "Domestic  Mission 
Society,"  which  had  been  for  eighteen  years  sending 
boxes  to  Home  missionaries;  and  a  Bible  Reader's 
Society,  with  Mother's  Meetings  under  its  care;  besides 
which,  Dorcas  Meetings  were  held,  and  collections  were 
made  by  visitors  for  the  Women's  Union  Foreign  Mis- 
sionary Society.  It  was  important  that  this  Foreign  Mis- 
sion work  should  be  regularly  organized  and  extended,  that 
systematic  visiting  should  be  imdertaken,  and  the  way 
opened  for  still  other  forms  of  work.  Yet  it  was  evidently 
imdesirable  to  multiply  indefinitely  separate  organizations. 

The  plan  then  proposed  and  adopted  was  to  form  a 
Union  of  the  Women's  societies,  of  such  a  kind  that  each 
could  be  imfettered  in  doing  its  own  work,  and  yet  have 
opportunity  for  meeting  all  the  others  at  regular  intervals, 
for  mutual  counsel  and  aid.  This  Union  or  Association 
could  have  supervision  over  all  the  various  societies 
of  which  it  was  formed,  by  means  of  a  central  Executive 
Committee,  while  in  reality  it  would  not  be  another 
society,  but  rather  a  combination  of  those  which  already 
existed. 

The  Pastoral  Aid  Society  was  precisely  such  a  union, 
in   all   but   name.      The    "Bible   Reader's   Committee" 


78  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

continued  to  have  every  power  which  it  had  possessed 
while  it  was  called  "The  Bible  Reader's  Society;"  it 
did  the  same  work,  had  the  same  officers,  and  was  within 
itself  entirely  the  same  as  before.  The  only  new  feature 
was  in  its  external  relations;  it  had  agreed  to  unite 
with  the  other  committees,  and  to  give  general  super- 
vision of  its  affairs  to  this  Union.  The  supervision, 
however,  was  hardly  more  than  nominal,  for  its  sole 
object  was  to  advise  and  help,  if  necessary,  but  not  to 
constrain.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  not  only  this,  but  every 
other  committee,  conducted  its  own  affairs,  at  meetings 
of  its  own,  almost  as  freely  as  though  no  Pastoral  Aid 
Society  existed.  The  work  of  each  was  the  more  ener- 
getic, and  not  the  less  so,  because  of  its  connection  with 
all  the  rest.  Experience  showed  the  plan  to  be  easily 
worked  and  efficient.  Many  new  forms  of  work  were 
carried  into  successfiil  operation,  which  would  not  have 
been  undertaken  but  for  the  help  afforded  by  this  So- 
ciety, and  the  older,  more  familiar  work,  was  not  only 
sustained  but  enlarged.  According  to  this  plan,  every 
member  of  every  group  of  Women- workers,  would  by  that 
very  fact  be  also  a  member  of  the  Pastoral  Aid ;  but  as 
there  were  always  some  who  made  no  use  of  this  privilege, 
provision  was  made  for  electing  to  active  membership  in 
the  Pastoral  Aid,  such  workers  as  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee might  find  open  for  invitation  and  nomination. 

It  should  also  be  noticed  that  the  whole  work  repre- 
sented by  this  society  was  under  the  immediate  super- 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  79 


vision  of  the  Church  Session,  as  its  Constitution  pro- 
vided; and  that  nothing  of  importance  was  undertaken 
by  it,  until  after  full  consultation  with  its  Pastor.  The 
name  of  the  Society  was  indeed  chosen  by  the  ladies 
present  at  the  organization,  expressly  to  indicate  their 
intentions  in  this  matter. 

The  System  Itself  was  thus  arranged  in  the  hope  that 
it  might,  if  possible,  continue  in  operation  without 
needing  any  essential  change;  adapting  itself  to  any 
future  emergency  which  might  arise.  It  was  inherently 
flexible  enough  to  admit  of  every  single  committee 
being  discontinued,  one  after  another,  if  any  necessity 
of  that  kind  could  be  imagined,  and  wholly  new  forms 
of  work  taken  up;  while  meantime,  the  Society  itself 
would  still  bind  together  whatever  committees  did 
exist. 

Many  requests  came  from  other  Churches  for  copies 
of  the  Pastoral  Aid  Society  Constitution,  and  many  simi- 
lar societies  were  formed  in  consequence.  Sometimes, 
however,  the  new  organization  became  simply  one  fur- 
ther addition  to  the  list  of  Women's  Societies,  instead 
of  comprising  them  all  in  one  imited  group.  Wherever 
this  central  idea  was  not  thus  lost,  it  was  possible  to 
include  at  one  view  all  the  various  operations  carried 
on  by  the  women  throughout  the  entire  congregation. 
Every  Women's  Society  or  Committee  was  affiliated 
with  the  Pastoral  Aid  Society,  and  every  member  of 
the  Pastoral  Aid  Society  was  in  it  solely  because  of  her 


80  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 


active  membership  in  one  or  more  of  these  afBliated 
societies. 

In  the  report  for  1878,  our  own  society  spoke  of  itself 
as  follows:  ''The  Pastoral  Aid  Society  is  really  a  group 
of  societies,  for  in  all  but  the  name,  each  standing  com- 
mittee is  a  distinct  society,  with  its  own  officers  and  work. 
In  order  to  sympathize  with,  and  help  each  other,  they  all 
meet  together  statedly.  This  united  meeting  is  the 
same  thing  as  the  Pastoral  Aid  Society,  whose  officers 
are  entrusted  with  a  general  supervision  over  all  these 
departments  of  work. "  In  the  course  of  time,  it  became 
obvious  that  it  was  not  really  necessary  to  use  always 
and  only  the  name  ''Committee"  for  every  affiliated 
organization,  as  it  might  be  called  a  "  Club"  or  "  Society" 
of  "League"  or  "Band'*  or  "Guild,"  and  still  be  in 
membership  with  the  central  united  Pastoral  Aid 
Society. 

In  the  first  Annual  Report,  there  were  nine  com- 
mittees on  the  list,  and  in  the  tenth  report  there  were 
seventeen.  In  the  course  of  those  ten  years  some  com- 
mittees were  formed  to  meet  a  temporary  need,  and 
ceased  when  their  work  was  done. 

The  list  in  1880,  at  the  end  of  Dr.  Dripps'  pastorate, 
included  three  groups — Missionary,  Neighborhood  and 
Congregational  Committees. 

For  Mission  work  there  were  two,  one  for  the  Home 
and  the  other  for  Foreign  fields.  For  Neighborhood 
work  there  were  nine;    including  that  for  the  support 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  81 


of  a  Bible  reader  (or  Parish  Visitor),  for  Mother's  Meet- 
ings, Dorcas  Work,  and  Relief  of  the  Poor,  for  Tract 
Supply,  for  the  Pulaskiville  and  Somerville  Sunday 
Schools,  and  for  co-operation  with  the  Presbyterian 
Home  for  Widows,  and  the  Orphanage.  *'Work  within 
the  congregation"  included  Systematic  visiting,  Social 
receptions.  Parish  library.  Flowers  for  church  services, 
Care  of  the  Church  building,  and  the  Ladies'  Prayer 
Meeting. 

In  the  appendix  to  this  volume,  will  be  found  a  state- 
ment on  behalf  of  the  Pastoral  Aid  Society,  prepared 
by  its  Executive  Committee. 

Some  of  these  operations  entered  so  largely  into  our 
whole  church  life,  that  they  call  for  distinct  mention 
on  their  own  account. 

The  Women's  Foreign  Mission  Work,  is  one  of  these. 
It  received  a  considerable  enlargement,  beginning  with 
1870.  During  the  year  preceding  this,  some  of  the 
ladies  had  begun  to  make  collections  for  the  Woman's 
Union  Missionary  Society.  But  it  was  felt  that  the 
time  had  come  for  enlarging  the  Women's  Work  if 
possible,  and  at  the  meeting  above  mentioned  a  Com- 
mittee was  appointed,  with  the  intention  of  having  it 
take  into  consideration  the  whole  subject.  Its  more 
immediate  object  was  to  represent  this  Church  at  a  con- 
vention, held  the  same  month  in  Philadelphia,  prelimi- 
nary to  the  organization  of  the  Woman's  Foreign  Mission 
Society   of    the    Presbyterian   Church.     That   organiza- 


82  THE    FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

tion  did  not  take  place  for  several  months,  however; 
and  meantime  the  ladies  in  this  church  became  still 
more  deeply  interested  than  before,  in  the  Woman's 
Union  Foreign  Mission  Society,  and  agreed  to  contribute 
to  it,  through  the  Germantown  Auxiliary,  which  had 
been  formed  January  19th,  1869.  It  is  to  the  Union 
Society  that  we  as  a  Church  owe  the  first  quickening 
of  interest  in  this  great  branch  of  Women's  Work;  it 
was  through  its  success,  that  other  and  more  strictly 
denominational  societies  were  encouraged  to  organize; 
and  its  effectiveness  on  the  Foreign  Field,  combined  with 
our  reverence  for  the  memory  of  its  sainted  founder, 
Mrs.  Doremus,  to  secure  from  us  the  continuance  of 
hearty  interest  and  good  will. 

The  greater  part  of  our  work,  however,  was  carried  on 
through  the  Woman's  Foreign  Mission  Society  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church.  As  already  stated,  our  Com- 
mittee took  part  in  the  movements  connected  with  the 
formation  of  that  Society;  but  did  not  complete  the 
relation  thus  begun  until  1872.  In  November  of  that 
year,  a  meeting  was  held  in  the  Lecture  room,  to  receive 
statements  in  regard  to  the  work  carried  on  by  the  women 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  heathen  lands.  So  much 
interest  was  felt  in  the  addresses  made  on  behalf  of  that 
Society,  and  especially  in  the  facts  with  regard  to  Japan, 
that  a  second  meeting  was  at  once  held,  and  after  con- 
ference with  the  other  ladies  in  the  Church,  this  Com- 
mittee  undertook   the   duties   of   an   Auxiliary   to   the 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  83 


Presbyterian  Societ}^,  and  the  responsibility  of  furnish- 
ing the  entire  support  for  a  missionary  in  Japan.  Miss 
Gamble  accepted  this  position,  but  there  was  much  delay 
in  her  preparation,  and  she  continued  for  only  one  year 
on  the  field. 

Mrs.  John  Ballagh  became  our  missionary  on  January 
1st,  1877.  After  that  time  a  fresh  impulse  was  given 
to  the  work  in  all  directions,  by  the  helpful  and  quick- 
ening influence  which  came  from  intercourse  with  this 
faithful  and  devoted  servant  of  God. 

It  is  well  to  notice  that  during  the  four  years  which 
immediately  followed  our  entrance  upon  this  work,  we 
were  carrying  it  on  as  a  matter  of  principle,  without 
dependence  upon  the  stimulus  of  regular  correspondence 
with  a  missionary;  for  until  we  knew  Mrs.  Ballagh, 
there  was  but  a  very  brief  time  during  which  any  letter 
at  all  came  to  us  from  the  Foreign  Field.  The  lack  of 
this  stimiilus  was  indeed  felt;  and  especially  by  those 
contributors  to  whom  the  Women's  Foreign  Work  was 
entirely  a  new  one.  But  there  was  always  enough  of 
interest  in  the  work  for  its  own  sake,  and  apart  from  all 
craving  for  the  sight  of  immediate  results,  to  secure  its 
continuance  without  any  deficiency. 

At  the  beginning  some  fears  were  expressed  that  these 
gifts  would  interfere  with  the  annual  contribution  from 
the  congregation  at  large  to  the  Mission  Board,  but  the 
result  was  of  a  very  different  kind;  a  wider  and  deeper 
interest  in  the  whole  work  of  missions  was  secured,  so 


84  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 


that,  beside  other  good  results,  the  annual  collection 
(which  does  not  include  any  of  the  sums  above  referred 
to)  had  risen  from  $462  in  1870,  to  more  than  $1000 
in  1879. 

The  organization  of  the  Committee  calls  for  special 
mention.  Its  membership  was  divided  into  two  classes, 
Contributing  and  Active.  The  Contributing  members 
included  all  the  ladies  of  the  Church  who  gave  regularly 
to  the  support  of  the  work.  The  Active  members  were 
those  entrusted  with  the  management  of  the  work  itself. 
The  members  of  this  latter  class  were  chosen  at  first  by 
the  Executive  Committee  of  the  Pastoral  Aid  Society, 
in  conference  with  the  Pastor ;  the  object  being  to  secure 
persons  specially  interested  in  missions,  and  willing  to 
give  the  required  time  and  trouble.  A  report  of  all  their 
proceedings  was  to  be  made  to  the  Contributing  members 
each  year,  at  the  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Pastoral  Aid 
Society,  where  they  were  expected  to  be  present.  It 
was  also  understood  that  during  the  year,  in  case  the 
Committee  was  contemplating  any  unusual  action, 
report  of  the  same  could  be  made  at  any  Pastoral  Aid 
meeting,  and  a  vote  taken  thereon.  Practically,  there- 
fore, so  far  as  the  business-meetings  were  concerned, 
the  Committee  consisted  of  these  "Active  Members." 
They  elected  annually  a  President,  Secretary,  and  Treas- 
urer. These  officers  represented  the  Committee  in  its 
intercourse  with  various  external  bodies,  such  as  the 
Woman's   Union   Society,   the   Presbyterian   W.   F.   M. 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  85 


Society,  and  that  branch  of  the  same  which  is  composed 
of  the  churches  in  this  particular  Presbytery.  The  meet- 
ings for  the  tranasction  of  business  were  held  monthly, 
during  most  of  the  year. 

Further  details  will  be  found  in  the  "Statement  of 
the  Pastoral  Aid  Society,"  in  the  Appendix. 

Another  department  of  Christian  work  was  that  of  the 
** Bible  Reader,"  or  as  she  is  now  called,  the  ''Parish 
Visitor." 

This  continued  the  work  of  the  Bible  Reader's  Asso- 
ciation, which  was  formed  in  the  spring  of  1868,  and 
which  connected  itself  with  the  Pastoral  Aid  Society  on 
the  4th  of  May,  1870.  The  Mothers'  Meeting  was  orig- 
inated by  this  Committee.  For  the  first  few  years,  the 
duties  of  this  position  were  performed  in  succession  by 
Mrs.  M.  G.  Baldwin,  Mrs.  Sarah  McNeill,  Miss  Mary  A. 
Williams  and  Miss  E.  A  Hawley.  In  December,  1879, 
Mrs.  CD.  Scott  took  up  the  work,  in  which  she  still  con- 
tinues to  the  present  year,  1909.  Her  record  of  service 
for  thirty  years,  is  worthy  of  all  honor. 

Relief  to  bodily  need  was  at  first  included  among  the 
duties  of  the  Bible  Reader,  but  experience  led  to  the  sepa- 
ration of  this  from  the  other  part  of  the  work.  Cases 
for  relief  were  reported  by  the  Bible  Reader  to  another 
Committee,  while  her  own  work  was  kept  distinct  from 
alms-giving.  Each  of  the  Visitors  named  above  took  the 
position  in  the  true  mission  spirit,  accepting  only  salary 
enough  to  supplement  other  means  of  support.     Four 


S6  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

afternoons  a  week  were  usually  spent  in  visiting.  The 
Parish  Visitor,  went  about  as  a  Christian  woman,  to  do  a 
kind  of  good  which  only  a  woman  can  with  effectiveness 
do.  She  visited  not  merely  in  homes  of  sickness  and  pov- 
erty, but  wherever  as  a  Christian  friend,  she  had  access. 

The  work  among  those  families  who  were  beyond  all 
Church  influences,  was  at  first  the  only  object  in  view, 
but  in  the  course  of  time,  so  many  of  them  came  into  the 
congregation,  while  still  needing  these  ministrations  of 
the  Parish  Visitor,  that  finally  her  effort  was  limited  to 
families  connected  with  the  congregation.  Whenever 
she  did  visit  those  who  most  naturally  belonged  to  some 
other  Church,  their  attention  was  immediately  tinned 
toward  it,  and  every  precaution  was  taken  against  even 
the  appearance  of  proselytism.  In  some  years  a  thou- 
sand visits  would  be  made,  in  others  not  more  than  half 
that  number,  according  to  circumstances; — ^but  enough 
was  always  done  to  render  this  one  of  our  most  valuable 
agencies. 

Another  form  of  work  at  this  period,  was  that  of  **  Sys- 
tematic Visiting." 

This  was  the  branch  of  work  within  the  congregation 
itself,  which  really  occasioned  the  formation  of  the 
Pastoral  Aid  Society.  The  Pastor  greatly  desired  aid 
from  the  ladies  of  the  congregation  in  keeping  all  of  its 
families  constantly  reminded  of  their  relation  to  the 
Church;  and  as  new  opportimities  for  usefulness  were 
constantly  presenting  themselves  to  the  ladies,  resulting 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  87 


in  the  formation  of  new  organizations,  there  was  danger 
of  a  multiplication  of  unconnected  societies,  which  might 
ultimately  prove  troublesome.  Provision  was  made, 
therefore,  not  merely  for  the  desired  visiting,  but  also  for 
combining  this  and  the  other  new  enterprises  with  the 
already  established  forms  of  Woman's  Work,  in  one 
organization. 

This  particular  Committee  was  arranged  as  follows: 
the  whole  Parish  was  divided  into  districts  of  convenient 
size,  and  each  of  these  districts  was  assigned  to  a  sub- 
committee of  two  visitors,  who  were  expected  ordinarily 
to  call  upon  every  church  family  within  its  bounds,  once 
in  each  quarter.  It  was  intended  that  the  Visiting 
Committee  should  thus  become  intimately  acquainted 
with  Church  affairs  in  its  own  district ;  should  give  notice 
to  the  Pastor  at  once  of  every  case  of  sickness,  or  other 
special  call  for  his  services,  and  carry  a  welcome  to  new 
families  which  might  arrive  from-  time  to  time. 

Usually  it  was  so  arranged  that  the  districts  did  not 
number  more  than  twelve  to  fifteen  families  each;  but 
the  Pulaskiville  and  Somerville  Districts  needed  special 
provision.  In  the  latter  case  the  Visiting  Committee  was 
enlarged  by  the  addition  of  a  company  of  young  Church 
members,  living  within  the  district,  who  rendered  most 
efficient  aid,  calling  upon  the  sick,  upon  the  new  arrivals 
at  the  Chapel,  and  wherever  they  could  be  of  service.  A 
tract  was  left  at  each  visit,  and  valuable  religious  help 
was  given  and  received  during  these  calls ;  but  much  was 


88  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 


gained,  even  when,  as  in  so  many  cases,  the  conversation 
was  simply  that  of  informal  neighborly  kindness. 

The  "Ladies'  Prayer  Meetings"  should  by  all  means 
have  distinct  recognition,  as  a  most  valuable  feature  of 
the  Church  life. 

Beginning  with  the  winter  of  1873-74,  a  devotional 
hour  was  observed  by  the  ladies,  immediately  after  the 
''Mothers*  Meetings"  each  week.  The  younger  ladies 
had  a  similar  hour  for  prayer,  on  Sunday  evenings  just 
before  service,  with  an  attendance  of  thirty-five  or  forty 
persons.  After  two  or  three  years,  however,  it  was 
found  impracticable  to  connect  the  prayer-meeting  with 
another  service  in  this  way. 

In  the  Fall  of  1877,  therefore,  Mrs.  Dripps  invited  the 
ladies  to  her  own  home  for  an  hour  in  the  morning,  every 
week.  The  attendance  soon  became  too  large  for  her 
rooms,  and  she  agreed  to  have  the  meetings  transferred 
back  again  to  the  Church.  These  meetings  were  not 
held  for  business,  nor  for  study,  but  solely  for  devotional 
meditation  on  God's  Word,  and  for  prayer.  Every 
department  of  Church  work  was  the  better  because  of  the 
petitions  which  were  here  offered  on  its  behalf,  and  the 
whole  tone  of  the  Church  life  was  more  spiritual.  It  was 
well  worth  all  it  cost. 

The  Pulaskiville  Sunday  School  afforded  still  another 
field  for  Church  activity.  This  will  be  recognized  as  the 
small  beginning,  from  which  came  in  later  years  the 
Westside  Presbyterian  Church. 


^^o 


in  1870  . 

"tCDOwn  as  PuiaskiviUe  measured 

;ss  than  t 

■  >n,  but  was  esti- 

iiated    tu    . 

:,:.]            ....:'!.                  And, 

[though  V 

•  Hi 

hurche- 

J.    own 
v>as  but  n.. 
ught  home  in 
his  church,  M 
iary    Mansfield:     they    conieri^d    to 
r ember   26th,    1870,   can vr   ■    '    ' '  ' 
Pledi^es  were  2:iven  of 
orty-eight  ciMS.'m^m^'P :CHAPML. 
were  offered  for  th 


School  tr 
md  eig": 

3et  square,  and  as  no  otherb  ^ 
c  ^  ^...,.,  building  was  felt  n' 

"i     -.'IS  came  at  the  ver 
^ist  undertaking  the  heav\  iCSiX 
>ew  edifice  for  its  own  use,  1 
'  ork  would  be  a  help,  pj  ' 


A.-\H^ 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  89 


In  1870  the  district  known  as  Pulaskiville  measured 
less  than  two  squares  in  each  direction,  but  was  esti- 
mated to  contain  some  eight  himdred  souls.  And, 
although  the  place  was  within  a  half  mile  of  several 
churches,  its  inhabitants  greatly  needed  to  have  the 
gospel  brought  to  their  own  doors. 

The  neighborhood  was  but  recently  settled  when  its 
necessities  were  brought  home  in  various  ways  to  two 
different  ladies  of  this  church,  Mrs.  Jonathan  Graham 
and  Miss  Mary  Mansfield:  they  conferred  together, 
and  on  September  26th,  1870,  canvassed  Pulaskiville 
for  scholars.  Pledges  were  given  of  the  attendance  of 
forty-eight  children,  and  two  rooms  in  a  private  house 
were  offered  for  the  use  of  the  proposed  school.  Mr. 
Isaac  C.  Jones,  Jr.,  agreed  to  act  as  Superintendent, 
and  other  of  our  Church  families  in  the  part  of  German- 
town  nearest  Pulaskiville  became  active  in  the  work. 
The  ladies  among  them  w^ere  formally  organized  as  a 
Standing  Committee,  by  the  Pastoral  Aid  Society,  on 
the  5th  of  October,  1870.  October  9th,  the  Stmday 
School  met  for  the  first  time,  with  forty-eight  scholars 
and  eight  teachers.  The  two  rooms  were  only  twelve 
feet  square,  and  as  no  others  were  procurable,  the  need 
of  a  new  building  was  felt  at  once.  The  appeal  for  con- 
tributions came  at  the  very  time  when  our  Church  was 
just  imdertaking  the  heavy  responsibility  of  erecting  a 
new  edifice  for  its  own  use,  but  it  was  felt  that  the  mission 
work  would  be  a  help,  and  not  a  hindrance  to  the  Church, 


90  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

and  the  amount  asked  for  was  cheerfully  given.  There 
was  great  need  of  haste,  for  the  rooms  used  meantime, 
were  too  small  to  allow  the  use  of  a  stove  in  the  cold 
days  of  November;  and  on  Saturday,  December  9th, 
the  new  chapel  was  dedicated.  On  the  next  day  it  was 
occupied  by  the  school. 

At  the  Ninth  Anniversary,  in  October,  1879,  there 
were  eighteen  teachers  and  one  hundred  and  sixty 
scholars  on  the  roll.  Of  this  number  there  were  thirty- 
six  scholars  who  had  been  present  every  Simday  during 
the  year ;  nine  of  them  having  been  present  for  two  years, 
and  eleven  for  three  years  without  a  single  interruption. 

The  Somerville  Sunday  School  began  four  years  later. 
One  of  the  ladies  who  foimded  the  Pulaskiville  School 
had,  in  1874,  removed  to  the  Eastern  part  of  German- 
town,  and  foimd  still  further  East,  at  the  Township  Line 
and  beyond  it,  a  district  composed  of  outlying  settle- 
ments, several  of  which  were  quite  distant  from  any 
Church  whatever.  A  large  part  of  the  inhabitants  were 
losing  all  habits  of  Church-going,  and  the  need  of  mission 
work  was  palpable.  The  field  was  canvassed  for  scholars 
by  this  lady,  Mrs.  Jonathan  Graham,  August  17th,  1874, 
and  twenty-seven  names  were  secured.  The  refusal 
of  a  new  hall  which  was  to  be  erected  in  Somerville, 
had  already  been  secured  by  Mrs.  Graham  for  the  Sunday- 
School,  should  one  be  organized.  Efforts  were  then  made 
to  secure  other  helpers  in  the  work,  and  on  September 
8th,  a  conference  was  held  with  Mr.  George  Wiggan  as 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  91 


to  his  accepting  the  Superintendency.  This  gentleman 
had  formerly  been  for  some  time  a  pew  holder  in  our 
Church,  so  that  although  then  a  member  of  the  Second 
Chtu-ch,  he  was  well  known  among  us,  and  his  residence 
in  the  immediate  neighborhood  of  Somerville  made  his 
co-operation  valuable. 

On  September  14th,  1874,  these  facts  were  reported 
to  our  Session,  at  its  first  meeting  after  the  summer  vaca- 
tion, with  information  that  action  had  been  taken  thus 
far,  on  the  assimiption  of  Sessional  approval :  and  applica- 
tion was  made  to  have  the  enterprise  recognized  as  a 
work  of  this  Church,  imder  the  formal  charge  of  its  Pastor 
and  Elders.  This  application  would  have  been  made 
earlier  but  for  the  absence  of  several  members  of  Session 
from  town,  during  the  Simimer.  As  it  was,  the  proposal 
received  the  ready  sanction  which  it  sought;  the  new 
opportimity  for  work  was  thankfully  welcomed,  and  by 
formal  vote  of  Session,  was  recognized  as  regularly  imder 
its  care,  with  the  promise  of  all  possible  help  from  the 
congregation  at  large. 

In  the  course  of  the  following  season  there  was  a  move- 
ment looking  toward  the  establishment  of  a  new  Pres- 
byterian Church  between  Somerville  and  Germantown, 
at  the  comer  of  Penn  and  Chew  Streets,  in  which  case  it 
was  desired  to  have  the  Somerville  Simday  School 
removed  to  that  point.  The  proposed  Church  was  to  be 
under  charge  of  the  Sessional  Union,  representing  the 
four  Churches  of  Germantown,  but  so  many  difficulties 


92  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

were  encountered  that  the  enterprise  was  temporarily 
abandoned.  Several  years  later,  a  similar  movement 
resulted  in  the  formation  of  the  *' Church  of  the  Re- 
deemer" which  now  occupies  that  position. 

The  new  Sunday  School  remained,  therefore,  as  it 
began,  a  mission  school  of  this  Church,  on  which  it  de- 
pended both  for  gifts  and  for  workers.  So  few  of  our 
congregation  resided  within  reach  of  the  new  field,  that 
some  weeks  were  occupied  in  finding  the  requisite  num- 
ber of  teachers  from  our  own  number.  On  October 
25th,  1874,  however,  it  was  fully  organized,  and  held 
its  first  service  with  forty-eight  scholars  and  nine  teachers. 
During  1875,  the  School  continued  to  use  the  public 
hall  in  which  it  had  started,  at  the  comer  of  Stenton 
Avenue  and  Mill  Street.  In  the  Spring  of  1876,  the 
necessity  of  a  new  building  led  to  the  purchase  of  a  lot, 
and  the  beginning  of  the  desired  chapel.  The  ladies 
of  the  Pastoral  Aid  Committee  continued  to  render 
efficient  service  in  procuring  the  requisite  fimds,  and 
with  gratifying  success.  On  June  Uth,  1876,  the  "Som- 
erville  Chapel  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church"  was 
dedicated,  free  of  debt.  Its  erection  and  furnishing 
cost  $3235.25,  and  the  sum  of  $432.64  in  addition  was 
raised  for  the  Sunday  School,  and  other  services  held 
during  the  year,  or  $3667.89  in  all.  The  Sunday 
Schools  of  our  three  sister  churches  gave  $50.00  each 
toward  the  erection  fund,  and  the  residents  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  School,  $504.00,  while  the  main  sum  of  $3000.00 


A:i^K 


•rll-f^O^ 


09 


l^SPYTKRIA 


ncoimtereo 

Several 
vi  rhe  f' 
-v'hich  n    . 
new   Sunda) 
a  mission  sch 


The 
begar;, 
pencied  both  for 


Churcl 
^sition. 
id,  therefo; 
ch,  on  which  it  de 
So  few  of  our 
—   ^leld,  that 
•te  num- 
October 
ind  held 


THE   SOMERVILLE   CHAPEL 


necessity  oi  a  iu.';v  <:,  j  i:^  \  ..r  a  lot. 

and  the  beginning  c.    v..   ^...red  cha^.. ..      *  :ie  ladies 

<^^'    the    Pastoral    Aid   Committee   continued   to   render 

rocuring   the   requisite  funds^  and 


at- 

cost  5 
raised 


towan 

of  the  School,  $504.<K^  whii- 


3CKX).00 


\ 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  93 


came  from  this  Church  itself.  At  the  Anniversary,  held 
in  "^October,  1879,  there  were  on  the  roll  twenty-five 
teachers,  and  two  hundred  and  seventy-eight  scholars. 
The  growth  of  the  School  was  only  limited  by  the  size 
of  the  building. 

In  each  of  the  two  chapels  Simday  School  work  was 
connected  with  various  other  forms  of  mission  enterprise. 

At  Pulaskiville  weekly  prayer  meetings  were  held 
beginning  with  January,  1871;  just  after  the  chapel 
was  erected.  These  were  at  first  in  charge  of  the  various 
Elders,  who  served  in  rotation ;  and  were  held  on  Tuesday 
evenings,  but  afterward  on  Friday.  In  September,  1871, 
they  were  given  by  the  Session  into  the  hands  of  Dr. 
George  H.  Burgin,  who  changed  the  time  for  holding 
them  to  Sunday  evening.  In  this  form  they  were  at- 
tended with  much  success,  until  Dr.  Burgin 's  sickness 
and  death,  in  January,  1873. 

In  the  next  month,  February,  1873,  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Travis,  who  was  at  the  time  acting  as  Principal  of  the 
Germantown  Academy,  and  in  attendance  at  this  Church, 
took  up  the  work  and  continued  in  charge  of  it  imtil  late 
in  the  Fall,  when  other  duties  compelled  him  to  resign  it. 

Early  in  January,  1874,  some  of  the  young  men  in  the 
Church  began  to  hold  regular  meetings  at  a  private  house 
near  the  chapel ;  and  in  the  following  summer,  the  people 
of  the  neighborhood  came  together  more  largely  than  at 
any  previous  time,  in  attendance  upon  such  services. 
It  became  necessary  to  return  to  the  chapel  in  order  to 


94  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 


find  room  enough ;  and  the  meetings  continued  to  be  held 
there.  The  attendance  was  something  more  than  one 
hundred  and  fifty  at  these  services,  and  for  a  long  time 
additional  meetings  were  held  from  house  to  house  on 
Thursdays,  with  an  average  attendance  of  about  thirty. 
Many  additions  were  made  to  the  church  at  the  com- 
mtmion  in  December,  1874,  and  the  work  resulted  in  much 
permanent  good.  This  meeting  continued  in  charge  of 
the  yoimg  men  of  the  Church,  and  was  a  valuable  feature 
of  our  mission  work.  The  chapel  was  used  for  Gospel 
Temperance  meetings,  and  other  services.  A  daily  Par- 
ish School  and  a  Sewing  School  were  held  there  for  some 
years.  This  little  building  proved  to  be  a  spring  of  whole- 
some influences  in  all  the  neighborhood,  and  its  work  re- 
acted in  the  most  beneficial  manner  upon  the  Church 
itself. 

At  Somerville  also,  the  chapel  was  used  not  only  for 
Simday  School,  but  for  devotional  services  in  the  evening. 
The  difficulty  of  procuring  enough  lay  helpers  for  the 
purpose,  in  a  place  so  remote  from  the  main  body  of  the 
congregation,  led  to  the  suggestion  that  a  ftind  be  raised 
sufficient  to  provide  the  salary  for  a  minister,  who  might 
take  charge  of  the  proposed  services.  This  plan  was 
brought  before  the  Session,  by  those  of  our  people  who 
were  especially  interested  in  that  field,  together  with  the 
statement  that  the  condition  of  affairs  was  still  such  as  to 
manifestly  preclude  any  thought  of  forming  a  new  organi- 
zation there  for  years  to  come ;  and  that  the  success  of  the 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  95 


work  depended  wholly  upon  its  being  recognized  by  all 
our  members  as  their  own  enterprise,  under  the  direct 
charge  of  their  own  Pastor  and  Session,  and  for  which 
they,  as  a  Church,  had  the  entire  responsibility. 

The  title  of  "Chapel  Minister"  had  been  given  by  the 
General  Assembly  to  those  whom  a  Session  entrusts  with 
such  services,  in  a  mission  station  imder  its  care.  The 
first  to  occupy  in  this  way  the  pulpit  of  our  Somerville 
Chapel  was  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hofford,  then  of  Doylestown, 
Pennsylvania,  who  preached  on  Sunday  evenings  for  some 
three  months,  his  salary  being  provided  by  the  Church  in 
the  form  of  private  subscriptions.  Other  engagements, 
however,  prevented  him  from  entering  upon  the  work  as 
fully  as  he  had  first  intended,  and  caused  him  to  relinquish 
it.  In  January,  1877,  another  Chapel  Minister  was  there- 
fore engaged,  viz.,  the  Rev.  Mosely  H.  Williams.  As  the 
work  was  no  longer  a  mere  experiment,  regular  annual 
subscribers  were  now  secured,  so  as  to  provide  for  the 
minister's  salary  in  this  way  so  far  as  possible,  and  avoid 
the  necessity  of  special  collections. 

The  wish  for  a  weekly  prayer  meeting  in  the  chapel 
was  now  gratified,  since  the  residence  of  Mr.  Williams  in 
the  part  of  Germantown  near  Somerville  enabled  him  to 
inaugurate  services  of  this  kind.  This  was  done  at  his 
own  suggestion,  and  is  indicative  of  his  cordial  interest. 
Both  meetings  were  well  attended  and  successful.  In 
the  Fall  of  1878,  it  was  believed  that  the  way  was  open 
for  still  further  enlargement  of  the  work,  and  application 


96  THE    FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 


was  made  by  the  members  connected  with  this  part  of 
our  Church  work,  for  arrangements  whereby  two  services 
might  be  held  each  Sunday,  with  regular  visiting  through- 
out the  week.  After  some  time  had  been  spent  in  con- 
sidering this  application,  and  ascertaining  the  condition 
of  the  field  itself,  the  Session  agreed  to  sanction  it,  and 
provision  was  made  for  securing  additional  funds  in  order 
to  bring  up  the  salary  to  the  requisite  amoimt. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Williams  was  precluded  by  other  engage- 
ments from  accepting  the  position  in  its  enlarged  form, 
and  after  conference  with  several  other  brethren,  an  agree- 
ment was  finally  made  with  the  Rev.  James  W.  Kirk, 
who  became  our  Chapel  Minister,  March  19th,  1879. 
Good  results  from  this  enlargement  of  the  work  were 
shown  immediately,  and  this  whole  wing  of  the  church 
force  was  well  equipped  for  excellent  service. 

Changes  in  our  forms  of  worship,  which  began  during 
this  pastorate,  may  be  grouped  together  as  follows : 

The  Stmday  afternoon  service  was  transferred  to  even- 
ing in  the  Spring  of  1870:  this  change,  together  with  that 
of  the  weekly  prayer  meeting  from  Friday  to  Wednesday, 
being  in  the  direction  of  harmony  with  the  other  Churches 
in  the  vicinity,  and  attended  with  good  results. 

The  Sunday  morning  service  has  been  introduced  by 
the  Doxology,  since  Jime  1870;  and  it  is  especially  note- 
worthy that  since  June,  1873,  every  service  during  the 
week,  or  on  the  Lord's  Day  has  been  closed,  not  merely 
with  the  Benediction,  but  with  a  pause  for  silent  prayer. 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  97 


Before  the  Benediction,  and  also  immediately  after  it, 
the  congregation  stands  in  entire  silence  long  enough  to 
give  opportimity  for  silent  prayer  and  to  secure  a  rever- 
ential conclusion  to  the  worship  of  God. 

Since  1870,  persons  received  into  communion  upon 
profession  of  faith,  have  been  given  a  public  welcome 
before  partaking  of  the  Lord's  Supper.  It  will  be  noticed 
that  these  persons  are  presented  to  the  congregation,  not 
as  candidates  for  reception,  but  as  already  in  full  member- 
ship, and  to  be  welcomed  as  such. 

The  Week  of  Prayer  was  observed  at  the  beginning  of 
each  year;  and  the  following  program  with  slight  verbal 
alterations  was  in  use : 

Sunday.  The  petition  "Thy  Kingdom  Come,"  and 
in  order  to  the  fulfillment  of  this,  prayer  for  the  out- 
pouring of  the  Holy  Spirit  upon  all  flesh. 

Monday.  Thanksgiving  for  that  which  God  has  done 
to  bring  the  world  to  Himself,  and  Confession  of  our 
short-coming  as  fellow-laborers  with  Him. 

Tuesday.  Prayer  for  the  outpouring  of  the  Holy 
Spirit  upon  The  Family,  and  its  supplementary  agencies, 
the  Simday  Schools,  Colleges,  etc.,  in  all  lands. 

Wednesday.  Prayer  for  the  outpouring  of  the  Holy 
Spirit  upon  The  Nation,  and  for  the  success  of  move- 
ments for  public  and  social  reform. 

Thursday.  Prayer  for  the  outpouring  of  the  Holy 
Spirit  upon  The  Church  Universal,  in  its  ministry  and 
membership. 


98  THE    FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

Friday.  Prayer  for  the  outpouring  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
upon  The  Church  in  its  Foreign  Mission  Work,  and 
for  the  conversion  of  the  heathen. 

Saturday.  Prayer  for  the  outpouring  of  the  Holy 
Spirit  upon  The  Church  in  its  Home  Missions,  and  in 
our  own  neighborhood. 

It  was  intended  to  secure  for  our  Church  by  the  use  of 
this  program,  certain  advantages  which  were  often  lack- 
ing in  the  schedule  prepared  by  the  Evangelical  Alliance, 
€.  g.y  The  same  prominence  was  given  to  the  coming  of  the 
Holy  Spirit,  and  to  the  Kingdom  of  Christ  in  all  the  earth, 
which  characterized  the  prayer  meetings  during  the  days 
before  Pentecost.  This  was  the  model,  after  which  the 
Week  of  Prayer  was  originally  formed  in  the  year  1860; 
but  in  the  course  of  time  it  was  greatly  changed,  even  to 
the  omitting,  or  the  barely  mentioning  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
in  some  of  the  programs. 

Two  of  our  members  were  ordained  within  this  period 
to  the  Gospel  ministry.  Rev.  Dr.  Alexander  Henry  and 
Rev.  Dr.  George  C.  Yeisley.  The  former  will  be  remem- 
bered as  bom  and  nurtured  within  the  congregation. 

The  Session  of  the  Church  had  several  changes  of  mem- 
bership. In  1870,  the  elders  were  T.  Charlton  Henry, 
Joseph  W.  Parks,  and  Enoch  Taylor.  In  January, 
1871,  William  Adamson  and  Thomas  MacKellar  were 
added;  in  December  1874,  Edward  L.  Wilson,  and  in 
December,  1876,  Charles  M.  Lukens.  Elders  Parks 
and  Adamson  afterward  removed,  the  former  to  another 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  99 


part  of  the  country,  and  the  latter  to  Wakefield  Church, 
in  whose  Session  he  remained  until  his  death  in  1877. 

The    formation    of    the  sessional  union    may    be 

taken  as  indicative  of  our  fraternal  relation  toward  the 
neighboring  Churches.  As  early  as  October,  1870,  this 
Session  extended  an  invitation  to  the  others  in  German- 
town,  looking  toward  such  a  Union:  some  unexpected 
difficulties  were  encoimtered  at  that  time,  but  information 
of  their  removal  was  received  in  June,  1872,  and  the 
invitation  being  then  renewed  was  at  once  accepted.  All 
the  active  members  of  every  Session  in  Germantown 
were  enrolled,  and  a  permanent  organization  was  formed ; 
its  object  being  "fraternal  consultation  and  united  action 
upon  those  subjects  in  which  otu*  Churches  have  a  com- 
mon interest."  The  meetings  of  this  Union  continued 
to  be  most  pleasant  and  profitable,  both  in  the  promotion 
of  brotherly  feeling,  and  in  efficient  action  upon  various 
matters  of  importance. 

The  Wakefield  Presbyterian  Church  of  Germantown 
was  one  of  its  first  fruits.  Early  in  the  year  1873,  Elder 
William  Adamson  informed  his  fellow  elders  in  this 
Church  that  he  had  for  a  long  time  felt  the  call  to  secure 
a  new  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  lower  part  of  the  town, 
where  a  large  field  existed,  unoccupied  by  any  congre- 
gation, and  becoming  rapidly  populated;  and  that  he 
now  felt  himself  able  to  undertake  this  enterprise,  in 
view  of  the  fact  that  our  own  people  were  fully  settled 


100  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

in  their  new  edifice,  and  could  afford  to  dismiss  him.  The 
Session  at  once  expressed  hearty  sympathy  with  him  in 
this  plan,  and  although  deeply  regretting  the  separa- 
tion from  us  which  it  involved,  pledged  him  its  cordial 
support.  The  matter  was  then  laid  before  the  Sessional 
Union,  Mr.  Adamson  offering  to  give  a  lot  valued  at 
$9000  for  the  new  Church,  and  agreeing  to  commence 
building  at  once,  in  case  the  three  congregations  should 
subscribe  as  much  as  $3000  in  all,  toward  the  fund. 
Considerably  more  than  this  sum  was  at  once  pledged. 
In  a  letter  written  by  Mr.  Adamson  some  time  after- 
ward, he  stated  to  us  that  $4107.65  had  been  received 
from  the  three  congregations,  of  which  sum  $2013.95, 
or  nearly  one-half,  had  come  from  the  First  Church. 
Upon  the  receipt  of  his  letter  this  Session  sent  him  an 
additional  sum,  bringing  our  total  contribution  for  the 
Building  Fund  up  to  $2100.  The  subscriptions  which 
were  given  by  members  of  this  congregation  somewhat 
later  toward  the  erection  of  another  and  larger  edifice 
for  the  Wakefield  Chtuch,  were  but  further  indications 
of  the  same  spirit.  Toward  the  other  two  Presbyterian 
Churches  then  in  Germantown,  the  same  disposition  of 
warm  fraternal  regard  was  ready  to  show  itself.  A 
visit  was  paid  to  us  by  the  Market  Square  Church,  when 
repairing  its  own  edifice  in  September  and  October, 
1872.  A  similar  invitation  was  afterward  extended  to 
the  Second  Church  under  the  same  circumstances  and 
with  the  same  motive. 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  101 


The  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  of  German- 
town  has  received  support  and  aid  from  this  Church, 
since  its  first  organization.  It  traces  its  foundation 
chiefly  to  the  Christian  zeal  of  Mr.  William  Adamson, 
who  was  at  that  time,  and  for  some  years  afterward, 
still  in  this  Church.  He  did  not  content  himself  with 
the  efficient  work  he  was  here  doing,  but  sought  to  in- 
fluence the  whole  commimity  for  good.  His  personal 
efforts,  and  the  responsibility  for  its  current  expenses, 
which  he  so  long  carried,  were  indispensable  to  the  suc- 
cess of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  In  this  he  was  sustained  by  the 
other  members  of  this  Church.  The  Board  of  Trustees 
put  $3000  into  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association 
stock,  and  others  gave  enough  to  make  a  total  contribu- 
tion amoimting  to  one-half  of  all  the  unconditional  sub- 
scriptions received  from  every  source,  when  its  building 
was  occupied.  The  Association  held  its  public  meetings 
in  this  Chturch  until,  through  Mr.  Adamson's  advancing 
a  large  part  of  the  necessary  sum,  it  piurchased  our  former 
edifice  and  remodeled  it  for  its  own  uses.  It  is  interesting 
to  note  that  Mr.  Adamson  continued  to  serve  in  the 
Presidency  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  from  its  foundation  in  1871 
imtil  his  death  in  1877,  and  that  Mr.  Bayard  Henry  has 
served  in  the  same  office  from  1887,  for  the  twenty- two 
intervening  years,  until  1909. 

Dr.  Dripps  resigned  his  charge  with  the  year  1880, 
finding  himself  compelled  to  seek  rest  and  change  for 
the  benefit  of  his  health.     He  afterward  became  Pastor 


102  THE    FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

of  the  Clinton  Street  Emmanuel  Presbyterian  Church, 
in  Philadelphia,  and  there  continued  from  1882  until 
1886.  Later  on,  he  was  Pastor  of  the  Independent 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Savannah,  Georgia,  from  1889 
until  1896.  Since  1903,  he  has  been  Pastor  of  the 
Church  of  the  Redeemer,  in  Germantown.  During  his 
connection  with  the  First  Church,  he  served  for  several 
years  as  President  of  the  Board  of  Education  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church,  and  as  a  Charter  Member  of  its  Board 
of  Ministerial  Relief.  Before  leaving,  he  prepared  the 
first  printed  manual  and  history  of  this  Church.  His 
repeated  visits  to  Germantown,  and  his  return  here  for 
permanent  residence  in  1896,  have  kept  him  in  touch  with 
this  congregation  imtil  the  present  time.  His  becoming 
the  Pastor  of  a  neighboring  Church  has  not  hindered 
him  from  being  still  an  unofficial  friend  and  helper  of 
this  Church.  He  was  called  to  take  part  in  the  installa- 
tion of  each  of  the  four  succeeding  Pastors,  and  has 
been  entrusted  with  preparing  the  history  of  their 
pastorates. 

The  intervals  between  pastorates  in  this  Church  have 
usually  been  short:  not  merely  because  the  field  itself 
is  so  attractive,  but  because  the  people  have  felt  that 
long  intervals  are  so  greatly  disadvantageous,  that  they 
have  always  looked  for  Providential  guidance  toward 
the  speedily  securing  a  new  minister. 

REV.  WILLIAM  J.  CHICHESTER  succeeded,  therefore, 
to    the    Pastoral    charge,    with    scarcely    any    interval 


^K'*^ 


c 


\  d 


whatever.     He 
ears  who  te 
attaches  ' 

He  ^ 


mrrng  t 

'i  his  sadd*^; 


he  city  of 
om  the  Balti- 
-al 

-'■  Tit'iuate 
llh  first 


!.  in  184 
1867,  ' 

..miniir- 

Second  Chi. 

'  apidly  built  up  the  m  and  was 

a  further  memoriai  ot  *-^  pres- 

edifice,  which  v/as  erect.  ..,       .^  pas- 

-'Tinsylvania,   and   although •  -here   !\aij 


uccession.  at  Los  Angeles.     Durir, 
with  the  First  Church  of  that  cnty,  i 
row^th  w^as  such  that  the  buil  ■' 
ain  the  enlarged  congregation 
•>re  sent  out  to  fom  a  ne'^^ 
>und   himself   peculiai; 
rowdng  and  struggling  cou 


-s, 

■rk 

in 

iV 

.  con  - 

there- 

Chichestf*r 

ird 

work   i 

nd  withdrew 

I* 


'\\\'\ 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  103 


whatever.  He  is  the  only  Pastor  during  these  last  forty 
years  who  is  not  now  living  in  1909,  and  his  sudden  death 
attaches  to  his  memory  a  special  pathos. 

He  was  bom  of  Scotch-Irish  parents,  in  the  city  of 
Baltimore,  Maryland,  in  1849;  graduated  from  the  Balti- 
more City  College  in  1867,  from  the  Western  Theological 
Seniinary  at  Pittsburgh  in  1870,  and  took  a  Post-Graduate 
course  at  Princeton  Seminary  in  1870-1871.  His  first 
charge  was  the  Second  Church  ot  Altoona,  from  1871  to 
1878.  Here  he  rapidly  built  up  the  congregation  and  was 
able  to  leave  as  a  further  memorial  of  his  work  the  pres- 
ent fine  Church  edifice,  which  was  erected  during  his  pas- 
torate. In  1878  he  took  charge  of  the  Church  at  Titus- 
ville,  Pennsylvania,  and  although  his  stay  there  was 
unusually  brief,  it  left  marked  results  of  good.  Early 
in  1880  he  was  called  to  Germantown,  and  was  installed 
over  this  Church  May  5th.  After  a  pastorate  memorable 
in  the  history  of  this  Church,  he  resigned  in  October,  1886, 
feeling  himself  called  to  enter  upon  work  in  Los  Angeles, 
California,  where  it  proved  that  his  chief  field  for  work 
was  awaiting  him.  He  was  Pastor  of  two  Churches  in 
succession,  at  Los  Angeles.  During  his  three  years  stay 
with  the  First  Church  of  that  city,  from  1885  to  1888,  the 
growth  was  such  that  the  building  could  no  longer  con- 
tain the  enlarged  congregation,  and  a  colony  was  there- 
fore sent  out  to  form  a  new  Church.  Dr.  Chichester 
found  himself  peculiarly  drawn  toward  work  in  this 
growing  and  struggling  congregation,  and  withdrew  from 


104  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

the  parent  Church  to  join  the  Colony,  which  was  known 
as  the  Immanuel  Church.  Here  he  continued  for  ten 
years,  from  1888  to  1898,  with  a  success  which  attracted 
attention  not  only  on  the  Pacific  Coast,  but  over  the 
entire  country.  It  was  this  which  led  the  First  Church 
of  Chicago  to  send  him  a  call  in  1898.  From  1898  until 
1903,  his  work  in  that  field  was  commensurate  with  its 
great  opporttmities  and  with  his  own  previous  achieve- 
ments. He  served  in  Chicago,  not  only  as  Pastor  of  its 
First  Church  but  as  Director  in  the  McCormick  Theo- 
logical Seminary,  in  the  Presbyterian  Hospital  and  in 
other  benevolent  institutions.  He  was  one  of  the  orig- 
inal members  of  the  General  Assembly's  "Evangelistic 
Committee,"  and  was  most  active  in  its  work  up  to  the 
time  of  his  death. 

His  death  itself  was  a  sudden  shock  to  us  all.  He  took 
cold,  was  too  much  absorbed  in  his  work  to  be  sufficiently 
careful,  was  sent  South  for  rest  and  quiet,  became  worse 
at  Atlanta  on  the  journey,  sent  for  his  wife,  and  within  a 
week  from  the  day  he  left  home,  he  had  died.  This 
was  on  March  23d,  1903.  It  is  a  striking  commentary 
on  himian  planning,  when  we  are  told  that  his  Presbytery 
had  been  expecting  to  send  him  as  Commissioner  to  the 
General  Assembly  which  was  to  meet  that  May  in  Los 
Angeles,  and  that  there  had  been  a  further  expectation 
that  his  name  would  be  presented  for  the  Moderatorship 
of  the  Assembly,  with  every  prospect  of  success.  But 
meantime,    he   had   been   transferred   to   the   ''General 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  105 


Assembly  and  Church  of  the  first  bom,  where  names  are 
written  in  heaven." 

In  reviewing  his  ministerial  life  as  a  whole,  especial 
attention  was  called  at  the  time,  to  his  success  as  an 
"Evangelistic  Pastor."  At  Los  Angeles,  with  which  his 
memory  is  especially  associated,  he  took  the  Immanuel 
Church  with  a  membership  of  one  hundred,  and  left  it 
with  one  thousand  three  hundred.  Including  also  his 
earlier  Pastorate  in  the  parent  Church,  we  are  told 
that  he  added  twenty-six  hundred  members  to  the  roll, 
of  whom  eight  himdred  and  twenty  were  on  confession 
of  faith. 

Here  in  Germantown  no  such  figures  could  well  be  ex- 
pected, because  there  had  been  much  less  than  one-half  of 
the  time  that  was  given  to  Los  Angeles,  and  because  the 
field  and  the  number  of  fellow  workers  were  not  so  large. 

It  was,  nevertheless,  by  no  means  unworthy  of  its 
place,  even  in  such  a  series  of  campaigns  as  that  which 
Dr.  Chichester  conducted. 

During  his  pastorate  four  hundred  and  eight  members 
were  here  added  to  the  Church,  of  whom  two  hundred 
and  thirty-eight  were  on  confession  of  faith,  and  the 
total  membership  was  brought  up  from  four  himdred 
and  three  in  1880  to  five  hundred  and  ninety-six  in  1886. 
He  left  nine  hundred  and  eighty-nine  in  attendance  on 
the  Sunday  Schools.  A  total  of  $128,042  was  contributed 
by  the  Church,  during  this  pastorate,  of  which  $75,531 
went  to  objects  outside  of  the  congregation. 


106  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

Dr.  Chichester's  pastorate  was  marked,  not  by  the 
further  multiplying  of  organizations,  but  by  the  steady 
operation  of  those  already  existing.  As  in  the  Gospel 
record  of  the  Disciples,  and  in  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles,  the 
Lord  showed  Himself  to  be  seeking  results  now  intensive 
and  then  extensive,  so  has  it  been  ever  since,  in  every 
living  Church  of  Christ.  Dr.  Chichester  was  used  by  his 
Master  here,  as  in  his  other  fields,  for  extensive  move- 
ments upon  unreached  souls  in  the  community  arotind. 
In  doing  the  one,  however,  he  did  not  leave  the  other 
undone. 

His  death  makes  it  possible  to  speak  of  all  this  more 
fully,  and  it  also  leaves  us  at  liberty  to  mention  one  fea- 
ture which  comes  to  mind  first  of  all,  when  we  think  of 
him; — namely,  the  singular  and  indescribable  charm  of 
his  personality.  Even  at  the  time  of  his  full  maturity  as 
a  leader  of  men,  whenever  a  waiting  congregation  looked 
up  into  their  Pastor's  eyes,  they  felt  as  if  the  Lord  had 
once  more  *'  set  a  child  in  the  midst  of  them." 

In  private  life,  his  very  look  did  carry  persuasion  to 
many  a  heart.  They  were  true  words  which  men  wrote 
of  him  after  his  departure,  that  he  was  a  man  ''of  win- 
some power;"  ''genial  and  lovable;"  "modest  even  to 
shyness,  and  yet  courageously  frank  and  earnest;"  "a 
soul  winner ;"  "  with  a  wonderful  faculty  for  reaching  men 
personally." 

The  close  of  his  pastorate  here  may  be  taken  as  indi- 
cating what   is  in  a  certain   sense  a  new  and  distinct 


CI 


10 


livisionof  t; 
o  much  in 


^  WOOD 

(]()wn. 

in  1870,  and  trom  Priii 
i 6 JO.     He  was  Pastor  of  the  C 

. .....  >        .h  in  "Buffalo,  ^ew  York,  frorr   . 

iid  of  the  Fo^/f^  f^V,^CM4fiLES..W00J^,  JD.D. 

ork,  from  1881  to  1886, 


It  wfis  during 

ht  Church  passed  the  one-thousand  \hi 
this  height  was  noL  attained  for 
ncrease  began  at  once,  and  the 
rnce?,  especially  in  the  evenin<^. 
:ominoc  becan^. 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  107 


division  of  the  Church  life.  The  next  two  pastorates  have 
so  much  in  common,  though  they  are  also  quite  distinct 
and  by  no  means  repetitious,  and  the  Church  found  itself 
in  their  time  upon  so  new  a  level,  that  a  line  of  sub- 
division may  very  well  be  drawn  at  this  place. 

THE  REV.  DR.  CHARLES  WOOD  took  up  the  work  when 
Dr.  Chichester  laid  it  down. 

Rev.  Charles  Wood,  D.  D.,  was  bom  in  Brooklyn,  New 
York,  June  3d,  1851.  He  graduated  at  Haverford  College, 
Haverford,  Pa.,  in  1870,  and  from  Princeton  Theological 
Seminary  in  1873.  He  was  Pastor  of  the  Central  Presby- 
terian Church  in  Buffalo,  New  York,  from  1873  to  1878, 
and  of  the  Fourth  Presbyterian  Church,  Albany,  New 
York,  from  1881  to  1886,  having  spent  the  interval  in 
foreign  travel  and  study. 

He  was  elected  as  Pastor  of  this  Church  on  December 
9th,  1885,  and  was  installed  May  6th,  1886.  On  that 
occasion  the  Moderator  of  the  Presbytery  presided,  the 
sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  Dr.  Alexander  Henry, 
and  the  charges  were  given  by  Rev.  Dr.  J.  F.  Dripps 
and  Rev.  Dr.  J.  W.  Teal. 

It  was  during  Dr.  Wood's  Pastorate  that  the  member- 
ship of  the  Church  passed  the  one-thousand  line,  and 
although  this  height  was  not  attained  for  several  years, 
yet  the  increase  began  at  once,  and  the  attendance  at 
Church  services,  especially  in  the  evening,  was  so  great 
that  larger  accommodations  became  an  imperative 
necessity. 


108  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

An  enlargement  of  the  Building  was  therefore  under- 
taken. The  Church  as  originally  constructed  was  ceiled 
with  plaster,  and  had  a  large  organ  gallery  at  the  south 
end.  It  contained  sittings  for  four  hundred  and  thirty- 
six  persons.  In  the  Summer  of  1888  work  was  begim  on 
the  present  West  Transept,  which  was  finished  in  the 
fall  of  that  year,  at  a  cost  of  about  $6000.  The  interior 
decorations  were  the  same  as  those  of  the  main  edifice, 
and  the  seating  capacity  of  this  transept  was  one  himdred 
and  fifty-six.  The  additional  accommodations  thus  pro- 
vided were  immediately  filled  up;  and  in  1892  a  general 
reconstruction  of  the  auditorium  became  an  absolute 
necessity.  The  changes  then  made  were  planned  by 
Frank  R.  Watson,  architect,  of  Philadelphia.  These 
consisted  of  the  erection  of  the  East  Transept,  the  re- 
moval of  the  old  roof  at  the  intersection  of  the  nave  with 
the  transepts,  and  the  framing  of  the  present  open- 
timbered  ceiling,  together  with  the  erection  of  an  organ 
gallery  over  the  pulpit.  The  organ  previously  used  was 
sold  to  a  Church  in  Scranton,  Pa.  The  recess  in  which  it 
foiTnerly  stood  was  filled  with  pews,  and  the  seating  of 
the  main  portion  of  the  auditoritun  was  re-arranged. 
As  the  result  of  these  changes,  there  was  a  gain  in  seating 
capacity  of  three  hundred  and  seventy  eight,  thus  pro- 
viding, in  all,  accommodations  for  nine  hundred  and 
seventy  persons. 

In  connection  with  these  additions  to  the  auditoriimi, 
the  Chapel  and  Simday  School  buildings  were  also  en- 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  109 


larged  and  re-decorated.     The  total  cost  of  these  improve- 
ments was  about  $14,500. 

The  beautiful  organ  which  occupies  the  present  organ 
gallery  was  a  gift  to  the  Chiu-ch,  a  memorial  of  Mrs.  Mary 
H.  Morris  Wood,  the  wife  of  the  Pastor,  who  died  in  1891, 
and  of  her  first-bom  son,  Wistar  Morris  Wood,  who  died 
in  1887.  The  instnunent  is  one  of  the  finest  in  the  city. 
It  was  built  by  Charles  S.  Haskell,  the  builder  of  the  organ 
of  the  Drexel  Institute,  and  of  many  other  notable  organs. 
The  organ  has  three  manuals  and  pedals,  and  the  action 
throughout  is  pneumatic.  A  fourth  manual  controls 
the  registration  of  the  instnmient,  there  being  no  draw- 
stops.  This  somewhat  imusual  feature  adds  greatly 
to  the  ease  with  which  the  performer  manipulates  the 
organ.  There  are  forty-three  speaking  stops,  divided  as 
follows : — 

Pedal  Organ 8  stops 

Choir  Organ 8  stops 

Great  Organ 13  stops 

Swell  Organ 14  stops 

There  are  seven  mechanical  stops  and  couplers,  and 
ten  combination  pedals.  The  Choir  Organ  and  the  Swell 
Organ  are  each  enclosed  in  a  separate  swell-box.  This 
affords  additional  opportimity  for  delicate  modulation 
of  tone. 


110  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 


The  organ  bears  a  bronze  plate  with  this  simple  in- 
scription : 

IN  MEMORIAM 


M.   H.   M.   W. 

1864-1891 

W.  M.  W. 

1884-1887 

1892 


A  Parish  House  was  secured,  by  the  purchase  of  the 
property  adjoining  the  Church  building  toward  the 
west.  This  included  a  building  which  had  originally 
been  one  of  the  large  old-fashioned  mansions  which  helped 
to  make  this  such  a  beautiful  avenue,  even  in  early  days. 
The  garden  was  so  large  that  the  owner  could  well  afford 
to  sell  a  part  of  it  as  the  site  of  our  Church  building,  and 
still  have  ample  grounds  remaining.  In  more  recent 
years  the  property  had  been  purchased  by  the  German - 
town  Working-Men's  Club,  and  the  house  had  been  con- 
siderably enlarged  for  their  uses.  After  it  came  into 
the  possession  of  this  Church  in  Dr.  Wood's  time,  it  was 
still  further  altered  and  enlarged,  so  as  to  make  it  an 
invaluable  portion  of  our  working  plant. 

It  has  been  used  for  the  Primary  Department,  and 
for  other  uses  connected  with  the  Simday  School,  for 
various  purposes  in  connection  with  the  work  of  the  men 


)'ir, 


Tlic'  organ  beL-  ite  witl 

scription : 


M. 


property 
west.     T. 

been  one  of  the  large  old 
to  make  this  such  a  bciautiiai  av 

The  garden  was  so  large  that  the  u^- i -i  ^.ua  j  .v<Mi  >tii".>i*jL 
to  sell  a  -Dart  of  it  as  the  site  of  our  Church  building,  and 

cmaining.     In  more  recent 
by  the  Ot^rmar* 


for  other  uses  c  hool,  for 

various  pmposes  in  conn  of  the  men 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  Ill 


and  that  of  the  ladies,  including  the  Gymnasium,  the 
reading  rooms,  etc., 

The  Westside  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized 
during  this  period,  as  an  outgrowth  of  the  Pulaskiville 
Mission  School  established  by  our  people  in  1870. 

The  same  Superintendent  who  was  then  mentioned, 
Mr.  Isaac  C.  Jones,  had  continued  in  charge  of  the  school, 
as  indeed  he  did  until  his  death  in  1895.  The  other 
workers  had  been  likewise  faithful  and  energetic,  so  that 
the  school  had  grown  in  number,  and  had  acquired  a 
reputation  for  most  unusual  regularity  in  attendance  on 
the  part  of  both  teachers  and  children.  The  spiritual 
results  of  such  work  were  such  as  might  be  expected. 
So  many  of  the  boys  and  girls  had  by  this  time  grown 
up  and  made  homes  of  their  own,  and  so  many  of  the 
neighbors  had  become  permanently  interested,  that 
there  came  to  be  a  distinct  call  for  the  establishment  of 
a  new  Church  in  this  field.  There  was  assurance  in 
advance,  of  its  being  a  self-supporting  Church  and  not  a 
mere  "Mission,"  from  the  fact  that  a  group  of  families, 
including  those  of  the  Superintendent  and  of  his  sons, 
and  others  closely  allied  with  them,  were  willing  to  give 
up  their  old  home  in  the  First  Church,  to  which  they 
were  warmly  attached,  and  cast  in  their  lot  entirely 
with  the  new  enterprise.  Accordingly  in  October,  1892, 
the  First  Church  sent  out  sixty-five  of  its  valued  mem- 
bers to  form  the  Westside  Church. 

They  provided  a  building  fund  of  $20,000,  and  one  of 


112  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

them,  Mr.  J.  Livingston  Erringer,  purchased  a  lot  of 
ground  to  serve  as  the  site  for  the  new  Church  building, 
the  deed  for  which  was  made  to  the  Trustees  of  the  First 
Presbjrterian  Church  in  Germantown  in  1892,  and  subse- 
quently, after  the  completion  of  the  Westside  Presby- 
terian Church,  conveyed  by  them  to  that  Church  in  1894. 

A  striking  indication  of  Dr.  Wood's  energy  may  be 
seen  in  the  following  statement,  sent  to  us  from  the 
Yoimg  Men's  Christian  Association  of  Philadelphia. 

"Rev.  Dr.  Charles  Wood,  pastor  of  the  First  Pres- 
byterian Church  of  Germantown,  began  the  meetings  for 
yoimg  men  in  Association  Hall  at  Fifteenth  and  Chestnut 
Streets,  in  the  Fall  of  1887.  He  continued  this  work 
after  he  became  Pastor  of  the  Second  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Philadelphia  until  he  accepted  the  call  to  the 
pastorate  of  the  Church  of  the  Covenant,  Washington, 
D.C.  For  twenty-one  consecutive  years,  from  November 
to  April,  Dr.  Wood  addressed  large  audiences  of  men  in 
Association  Hall,  with  an  aggregate  attendance  of  231,000 
men.  The  gatherings  embraced  large  niunbers  of  students 
attending  professional  schools,  yoimg  business  men,  work- 
ing men,  and  a  floating  population  of  strangers  in  the  city. 

"His  addresses  were  practical  in  their  character,  full 
of  helpful  suggestion  for  daily  life,  well  seasoned  with 
wit  and  humor,  and  always  having  a  strong  evangelistic 
appeal.  The  fame  of  these  meetings  was  national  and 
attracted  many  visitors.  The  interest  was  as  strong 
and  the  meetings  as  fruitful  at  the  end  of  the  twenty- 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  113 


first  year  as  in  the  beginning.  While  free  from  undue 
emotional  appeals,  there  were  always  immediate  results, 
and  the  Association,  from  time  to  time,  received  com- 
mimications  from  the  remotest  parts  of  the  United  States, 
and  even  from  abroad,  telling  of  the  complete  conversion 
and  lasting  change  for  the  better  in  the  lives  of  men,  due 
to  Dr.  Wood's  addresses. 

"  Notwithstanding  the  cares  of  a  large  pastorate  during 
all  those  years.  Dr.  Wood  never  failed  to  meet  the  young 
men  of  Philadelphia  in  this  hall  on  Sunday  afternoons, 
and  it  is  probable  that  more  yoimg  men  looked  to  and 
received  from  him  moral  and  spiritual  teaching  through 
the  spoken  Word  than  from  any  other  contemporary 
speaker.  It  is  said,  and  imdoubtedly  with  truth,  that 
this  record  of  twenty-one  years'  preaching,  to  audiences 
of  men  only,  in  one  hall,  is  without  a  parallel  in  recent 
religious  history.  Dr.  Wood  not  only  refused  compensa- 
tion for  this  imequalled  service,  but  contributed  to  the 
expenses  of  the  meeting  imtil  the  audience  itself  gave  a 
weekly  contribution  to  maintain  the  service.  He  also 
interested  himself  personally  in  the  young  men  who 
were  brought  into  church  membership  and  Christian 
service  through  his  work. 

"It  is  the  verdict  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Asso- 
ciation of  Philadelphia  that  no  one  man  contributed  so 
largely  to  the  direct  spiritual  activities  of  the  Association 
or  gave  greater  aid  to  the  work  of  reaching  the  imchurched 
men  of  Philadelphia  with  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel. 


114  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

"The  Directors  and  Managing  Boards  of  the  Asso- 
ciation united  with  the  members  in  a  testimonial  to  Dr. 
Wood,  and  in  expressions  of  appreciation  of  his  remark- 
able service,  when  he  left  Philadelphia  to  take  up  the 
pastorate  in  the  national  capital." 

Our  attention  has  been  called,  by  the  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association  officers,  to  the  further  fact  that 
Dr.  Wood  in  the  first  year  of  his  city  pastorate,  in  the 
summer  of  1897,  induced  his  congregation  to  set  up  a 
large  tent  for  Gospel  ser\'ices  in  the  vacant  lot,  comer  of 
Twenty-second  and  Walnut  Streets,  where  in  conjunction 
with  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  they  con- 
ducted year  after  year  services  at  which  from  three 
hundred  to  seven  hundred  young  men  were  present,  be- 
sides other  services  for  women  and  children.  With 
this  example  before  them,  it  was  the  more  natural  for 
the  Presbyterian  Social  Union  to  inaugurate  two  years 
later,  in  1899,  their  own  tent  work,  which  led  in  1901  to 
the  appointment  of  the  present  Evangelistic  Committee 
of  the  General  Assembly. 

Not  only  in  Philadelphia  but  in  Paris,  there  is  similar 
work  to  be  noted.  In  the  summer  of  1895,  Dr.  Wood 
exchanged  pulpits  with  Dr.  Thurber  of  the  American 
Chapel  in  Paris.  Dr.  Thurber 's  visit  here  is  still  remem- 
bered pleasantly,  and  Dr.  Wood's  visit  to  Paris  had  as 
one  result  the  maintenance  by  this  Congregation  of  a 
pew  in  that  Chapel.  This  may  serve  as  a  reminder 
that  Dr.  Wood's  interest  in  young  men  led  him  to  enter 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  115 


Upon  a  work  for  the  students  in  the  "Latin  Quarter" 
of  Paris,  of  which  he  still  continues  to  be  an  active 
supporter. 

The  young  people  of  his  own  congregation  were  by  no 
means  forgotten,  for  at  the  beginning  of  his  pastorate 
he  led  in  the  organization  of  the  Christian  Endeavor 
Society,  and  became  himself  its  first  President.  There 
were  at  first  about  fifty  members,  but  it  increased  until 
there  were  three  times  that  number.  In  a  statement 
recently  made  by  one  of  the  original  members  it  is  said 
that  the  spiritual  element  has  always  been  a  marked 
feature  of  this  Society.  "For  Christ  and  the  Church" 
has  truly  been  its  motto.  Its  meetings  have,  there- 
fore, been  for  help  and  not  for  rivalry,  in  relation  to 
those  held  by  the  Church.  "The  members  of  the  Chris- 
tian Endeavor  have  alw^ays  been  regular  attendants 
of  the  regular  Wednesday  Evening  Service." 

The  Rev.  Dr.  John  Calhoim,  who  became  Assistant  to 
Dr.  Wood  in  1892,  proved  himself  to  be  a  most  efficient 
worker,  particularly  in  the  Somerville  field,  until  he 
became  Pastor  of  the  Mount  Airy  Church  in  1896.  Many 
of  the  young  people  were  co-workers  with  him. 

During  the  ministry  of  Dr.  Wood,  there  were  eight  hun- 
dred and  seventy-six  persons  received  into  this  Church,  of 
whom  five  hundred  and  fifteen  came  on  Confession  of 
Faith.  The  total  membership  of  the  Church  in  1897  was  one 
thousand  one  hundred  and  ninety-one,  and  that  of  the  Sun- 
day School  was  one  thousand  two  hundred  and  fourteen. 


116  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 


During  the  same  period  the  sum  of  $253,981  was  con- 
tributed to  religious  and  benevolent  purposes,  of  which 
$106,953  went  to  objects  outside  of  the  congregation 
itself.  Dr.  Wood  resigned  January  7th,  1897,  to  take 
charge  of  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church  of  Philadel- 
phia, continuing  in  that  field  until  1908,  when  he  became 
Pastor  of  the  Church  of  the  Covenant,  in  Washington, 
D.  C. 

THE  REV.  CHARLES  ROSEBURY  ERDMAN    became    Pastor 

in  immediate  succession  to  Dr.  Wood.  He  was  bom  in 
1866,  graduating  from  Princeton  College  in  1886,  and 
from  the  Princeton  Seminary  in  1891.  In  the  same  year, 
1891,  he  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia 
North,  and  installed  as  Pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
at  Overbrook,  Pa. 

He  was  elected  as  Pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  in  Germantown  on  March  10th,  1897,  and  was 
installed  the  following  month,  April  22d,  1897.  The 
sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  Dr.  Alexander  Henry, 
the  charges  were  given  by  Rev.  Dr.  W.  J.  Erdman  and 
Rev.  Dr.  Charles  Wood,  and  the  installation  prayer  was 
made  by  Rev.  Dr.  J.  F.  Dripps. 

During  his  pastorate  of  nearly  nine  years,  he  had  as 
Assistant  Ministers,  Rev.  David  deForest  Burrell  (1901), 
Rev.  Walter  C.  Erdman  (1903),  and  Rev.  John  A.  Mac- 
Sporran  (1904). 

The  large  scale  upon  which  congregational  operations 
were  now  conducted  made  it  necessary  to  provide  more 


^labotat 

rianiiai,.  oiar  ye< 

ice  as 


'  include  only  t 
ind  condition  was 

were  made  at  ini:  ra 
i.v.,.-.  .=    ...  >.  .iar,  eight  hundred  and  .;  .,. 
being  enroile<i:^  vM^fr  ^4^^^,..^:  SfWMAK 
epresented  additions  -■■ 


Erdman 
^^  those  he' 
a  movements   (or 
"    ■-  "-     "  ople.     iiis 
.  ;-  will  be  ' 
lar  interest 
regation  as  well  c 
cne  people  of  th 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  117 


elaborate  records  than  had  been  necessary  in  earlier 
times.  A  card  catalogue  of  all  persons  in  the  Church 
and  congregation  was,  therefore,  prepared,  with  parish 
registers  based  upon  them.  Instead  of  occasional  church 
manuals,  a  series  of  regular  year-books  was  begim,  which 
has  continued  ever  since  as  a  permanent  institution. 
Letters  were  written  annually  to  all  absentees,  and  the 
Church-Rolls  were  revised  at  regular  intervals,  so  that 
they  should  include  only  the  names  of  members  whose 
address  and  condition  was  definitely  known. 

Additions  were  made  at  the  rate  of  very  nearly  one 
hundred  a  year ;  eight  hundred  and  sixty-five  new  names 
being  enrolled,  of  which  four  hundred  and  twenty-two 
represented  additions  on  Confession  of  Faith,  and  four 
hundred  and  forty-three  from  other  Churches.  Even 
with  heavy  losses  by  death  and  by  removal,  the  roll  at 
the  end  of  this  pastorate  ntimbered  one  thousand  four  hun- 
dred and  forty-seven.  The  Sunday  School  reported  one 
thousand  two  hundred  and  seventy-five  members  in  1906. 

Like  his  father.  Rev.  Dr.  William  J.  Erdman,  Mr. 
Erdman  had  an  active  part  in  such  religious  conventions 
as  those  held  at  Northfield,  and  took  especial  interest 
in  movements  for  the  better  religious  instruction  of 
Christian  people.  His  courses  of  sermons  on  the  Books 
of  the  Bible  will  be  remembered  in  this  connection. 

A  similar  interest  in  Christian  work  outside  of  the  con- 
gregation as  well  as  within  its  boimds,  was  shown  by 
the  people  of  the  Church.     They  were  closely  connected 


118  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 


with  most  of  the  organizations  for  general  religious  and 
benevolent  work  in  this  city  and  neighborhood. 

This  breadth  of  sympathy  and  interest  was,  of  course, 
materially  aided  by  the  remarkable  work  of  Mr.  Erdman 
himself,  in  connection  with  the  Yotmg  Men's  Christian 
Association  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad,  on  Sunday 
afternoons.  It  is  somewhat  unusual  that  two  Pastors 
in  succession  should  for  so  many  years  engage  in  this  par- 
ticular kind  of  Christian  work. 

The  following  statement,  sent  to  the  present  writer 
from  the  President  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association,  will  indicate  the  service 
which  was  thus  rendered : 

"My  Dear  Doctor  Dripps:  In  accordance  with  your 
request  I  take  pleasure  in  enclosing  a  brief  outline  of 
the  work  done  by  Rev.  Charles  R.  Erdman  in  connection 
with  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Department,  Yoimg 
Men's  Christian  Association. 

**Mr.  Erdman's  work  has  had  splendid  results  among 
our  railroad  men,  and  he  is  held  in  the  highest  esteem 
not  only  by  our  officials  but  by  all  of  the  employes  with 
whom  he  has  come  in  contact.  We  feel  that  our  Asso- 
ciation owes  a  debt  of  gratitude  to  the  First  Church 
of  Germantown,  for  allowing  Mr.  Erdman  to  continue 
this  important  service  during  his  incimabency  of  the 
pastorate. 

*'If  you  will  ask  any  Pennsylvania  Railroad  man  in 
touch  with  that  important  branch  of  the  corporation 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  119 


which  is  being  carried  on  in  Philadelphia  tinder  the  au- 
spices of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Department  of  the 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  'Who  is  responsible 
for  the  wonderful  growth  of  the  religious  work  of  that 
institution  ?'  he  will  tell  you  that  it  has  been  accomplished 
mainly  through  the  self-sacrificing  and  conscientious 
labors,  year  after  year,  of  Rev.  Charles  R.  Erdman, 
in  his  conduct  of  the  Sunday  afternoon  meetings. 

"Mr.  Erdman's  connection  with  this  work  began  in 
1894,  shortly  after  he  was  called  to  the  pastorate  of  the 
Overbrook  Presbyterian  Church.  He  had  among  his 
parishioners,  Mr.  Wistar  Morris,  who,  though  a  Quaker, 
became  interested  in  this  new  Church  enterprise,  and 
being  an  admirer  of  Mr.  Erdman,  came  frequently  to 
the  services.  About  this  time  the  Management  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company  lent  financial  aid  in 
the  erection  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Building  at  Forty-first 
Street  and  Westminster  Avenue,  West  Philadelphia,  the 
corner-stone  of  which  was  laid  by  the  late  President 
Roberts  in  1893,  and  the  building  dedicated  to  the  pur- 
poses of  the  Association  early  in  the  following  year.  Mr. 
Morris  invited  Mr.  Erdman  to  be  present  at  the  dedication, 
and  knowing  his  love  for  young  men,  asked  him  to  come 
and  conduct  the  Simday  afternoon  service  which  was  held 
for  the  benefit  of  Pennsylvania  Railroad  men  and  their 
families.  Mr.  Erdman  became  so  much  interested  in 
the  work  that  he  agreed  to  come  regularly,  which  he  did 
when  not  otherwise  engaged  during  his  residence  at  Over- 


120  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

brook ;  and  when  he  was  called  to  the  First  Presb)rterian 
Church  in  Germantown  he  accepted  with  the  under- 
standing that  he  still  be  permitted  to  continue  the  work 
which  he  had  for  several  years  conducted  in  the  interest 
of  railroad  men  on  Simday  afternoons  during  the  Fall, 
Winter  and  Spring  months.  This  work  with  him  was  a 
labor  of  love  which  he  performed  most  cheerfully,  refusing 
to  accept  any  compensation  for  his  services,  which  were 
rendered  at  times  when  it  involved  much  self-sacrifice 
on  his  part.  Since  Mr.  Erdman's  removal  to  Princeton 
he  has  not  been  able,  owing  to  the  great  demand  upon  his 
time,  to  continue  every  week,  but  he  is  usually  present 
about  two  Simday  afternoons  in  each  month. 

"Mr.  Erdman's  attendance  at  these  meetings  does 
not  by  any  means  constitute  the  entire  service  rendered 
by  him  to  the  Railroad  Association,  as  during  his  resi- 
dence in  Overbrook  and  Germantown  he  was  frequently 
called  upon  to  visit  the  sick  and  the  dying  at  their  homes 
and  in  the  hospitals,  and  his  presence  cotdd  also  be 
invariably  relied  upon  at  the  numerous  other  religious 
and  social  meetings  held  in  the  Building.  There  was 
published  several  years  ago  a  little  book  entitled  "  Simday 
Afternoons  with  Railroad  Men,"  containing  the  addresses 
delivered  by  Mr.  Erdman  at  these  meetings,  and  it  is 
safe  to  say  that  a  copy  of  this  book  may  be  found  in  the 
home  of  nearly  every  Pennsylvania  Railroad  employe 
in  West  Philadelphia.  The  attendance  at  these  meetings 
has  grown  steadily  from  the  time  Mr.  Erdman  entered 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  121 


Upon  the  work,  and  the  employes  and  their  famihes  are 
so  attracted  by  the  earnest  and  practical  way  in  which 
Mr.  Erdman  presents  the  plain  Gospel  truths  that  the 
auditorium  of  the  Building,  which  has  a  seating  capacity 
of  upwards  of  twelve  himdred,  is  frequently  overcrowded, 
so  that  in  the  fifteen  years  during  which  Mr.  Erdman 
has  been  carrying  on  these  services  he  has  reached  many 
thousands,  and  his  work  among  railroad  men  and  their 
families  has  been  greatly  blessed." 

During  the  pastorate  of  Mr.  Erdman  there  were  received 
into  the  Chiurch  eight  hundred  and  sixty-five  persons,  of 
whom  four  hundred  and  twenty-two  came  on  Confession 
of  Faith.  The  Sunday  School  numbered  one  thousand 
two  hundred  and  seventy-five  in  the  year  1906,  and  the 
total  church  membership  was  one  thousand  four  hundred 
and  forty-seven.  The  gifts  made  during  this  period 
amoimted  to  $253,981,  of  which  $106,953  went  to  outside 
objects. 

Mr.  Erdman  resigned  his  charge,  January  31st,  1906, 
in  order  to  become  the  Professor  of  Practical  Theology 
in  the  Princeton  Theological  Seminary.  His  residence 
within  so  short  a  distance  from  Germantown,  serves 
to  keep  him  in  pleasantly  close  touch  with  his  old  congre- 
gation. 

The  relation  between  Pastor  and  People  has  had  so 
marked  an  influence  upon  the  history  of  this  Church, 
that  it  calls  for  distinct  notice  as  we  bring  to  a  close  the 
record  of  this  pastorate,  the  latest  of  those  which  are 


122  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

finished  and  completed,  and  which  therefore  belong  to 
the  Past. 

In  a  book  of  general  history,  events  are  usually  referred 
to  the  time  of  this  or  that  ruler,  even  when  he  himself  had 
really  no  part  in  them.  It  is  of  course  conceivable  that 
in  the  same  way  we  might  assign  events  in  the  history  of 
a  Church,  to  this  or  that  pastorate,  without  implying  that 
the  Pastor  in  question  had  any  special  connection  with 
them.  But  in  point  of  fact  this  is  rarely  so.  In  our  own 
Church,  as  elsewhere,  the  new  activities  of  any  particular 
time  are  usually  originated  by  the  Pastor,  and  he  is  almost 
always  the  chief  agent  in  their  accomplishment.  The 
people  are  not  often  called  to  advance,  without  having 
their  Pastor  first  called  to  lead  the  way. 

We  could  not  well  expect  to  find  it  otherwise.  The 
Pastor  is  directly  called  of  God  to  a  position  of  leadership 
in  religious  work,  and  is  prepared  for  such  leadership  by  a 
long  course  of  special  training.  To  him,  this  is  his  life 
work  and  his  specialty,  while  to  the  people,  church- work 
is  but  one  among  various  other  forms  of  activity.  Sim- 
ply on  the  human  side,  the  influence  of  a  professional 
expert,  a  trained  leader,  is  natural  and  easily  understood ; 
but  the  Divine  origin  of  this  human  relation  gives  to  it 
always  its  chief  meaning  and  help. 

Our  own  history  has  clearly  revealed  to  us  that  Christ 
is  the  ever  living  and  active  Head  of  the  Church,  and  that 
in  every  emergency  He  has  at  hand  exactly  the  right  field 
for  His  minister,  and  the  right  Pastor  for  His  people. 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  123 


It  is  true  that,  in  a  single  instance,  more  than  ninety- 
years  ago,  a  Pastor  did  undertake  to  lead  the  people  away 
from  their  Church,  but  even  then  it  was  by  the  leadership 
of  the  aged  Founder,  who  was  in  all  but  name  the  perma- 
nent Senior  Pastor,  that  the  situation  was  saved.  The 
Lord  who  sent  Mr.  Bourne,  and  used  him  for  good,  re- 
tained also  Dr.  Blair,  and  used  him  for  a  still  larger  good, 
and  for  the  prevention  of  final  harm.  The  Church  gained 
more  through  the  one  Minister,  than  it  lost  through  the 
other,  even  in  that  time  of  division.  And  no  other  time 
of  division  has  ever  come.  That  was  surely  "the  excep- 
tion which  proves  the  rule." 

There  has  been  a  great  variety,  both  in  method  and  in 
personality,  among  these  Pastors.  When  Paul  writes 
to  the  Ephesians  about  the  sort  of  wisdom  which  God 
shows  in  His  dealings  with  the  Church,  he  describes  it  as 
a  wisdom  which  is  ''manifold,"  or  more  literally  "many- 
colored,"  "greatly- varied."  We  have  found  this  as  true 
in  German  town  as  it  was  in  Ephesus. 

Sometimes  a  man  finds  his  whole  life  uplifted  and  sus- 
tained by  the  sermons  of  a  Pastor  whom  he  knew  but 
slightly,  outside  of  the  pulpit.  Sometimes  the  same 
result  comes  through  frequent  personal  touch  with  the 
Pastor,  at  home  or  in  the  office  or  on  the  street.  A 
spiritual  relation  is  thus  formed  between  Pastor  and  peo- 
ple, which  is  more  sacred  than  that  between  leaders  and 
followers  in  any  other  body  of  men.  It  is  God's  own 
doing,  in  every  case  alike.      "There  are  diversities  of 


124  THE    FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

workings,  but  the  same  God,  who  worketh  all  things  in 
all."  We  find  illustrations  of  this  harmony  with  diversi- 
ties, through  all  our  history. 

It  was  so,  for  example,  when  Mr.  Erdman  followed  Dr. 
Wood,  and  was  in  turn  succeeded  by  Dr.  Jennings.  Here 
was  a  yoimg  man  of  but  six  year's  experience,  following 
a  man  who  had  had  recognized  success  in  prominent 
ptdpits  for  twenty-four  years,  and  whose  preaching  not 
only  held  his  own  people  steadily,  but  also  attracted  out- 
siders in  large  nimibers.  But  the  hearts  of  the  whole 
people  soon  became  so  knit  together  with  that  of  the 
yoimg  Pastor,  that  no  one  can  possibly  be  acquainted  with 
his  pastorate  without  being  much  impressed  by  this  fact 
and  its  results.  Yet  this  warm  regard  for  Mr.  Erdman 
did  not  in  the  least  interfere  with  that  which  had  so  long 
been  felt  for  Dr.  Wood,  nor  hinder  at  all  that  which  went 
out  at  once  toward  Dr.  Jennings,  when  the  Lord  gave 
him  in  turn  to  be  the  Pastor  of  the  Church.  It  was  much 
like  any  other  case  in  which  a  warm  hearted  man  has 
three  friends  who  are  entirely  distinct  in  themselves,  and 
in  their  relations  to  him,  but  for  whom  he  has  three 
friendships  as  warm  and  real  as  they  are  distinctive.  It 
might  perhaps  be  said  that  the  Lord  has  sent  here  three 
men  in  succession,  one  of  them  reaching  heart  and  will 
through  the  mind,  and  another  reaching  mind  and  wiD 
through  the  heart,  and  still  another  reaching  the  will 
through  mind  and  heart.  But  in  any  case,  and  whether 
or  not  we  are  successful  in  discerning  just  what  was  given 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  125 


to  the  Church  in  each  of  these  various  gifts  from  the  Lord, 
we  do  need  to  recognize  the  Lord  Himself,  as  shaping 
every  gift  for  its  own  time  and  purpose. 

When  the  Apostle  John  was  given  a  vision  of  things  to 
come,  he  entitled  that  vision  "The  Revelation  of  Jesus 
Christ."  Christ  was  not  only  its  Giver,  but  its  chief 
Object.  So  with  our  own  vision  of  things  in  the  Past: 
whatever  else  we  may  see  in  it,  we  are  surely  meant  to  get 
here  a  vision  and  a  Revelation  of  Jesus  Christ. 

It  is  in  this  that  we  find  the  real  significance  of  all  these 
little  details,  in  one  pastorate  and  in  another. 

THE  REV.  DR.  WILLIAM  BEATTY  JENNINGS  is  the  suc- 
cessor to  Mr.  Erdman,  and  the  present  Pastor  of  the 
Church.  Dr.  Jennings  was  bom  of  Scotch-Irish  parent- 
age at  Bennettsville,  S.  C,  September  12th,  1859.  He 
graduated  from  Davidson  College,  N.  C,  in  1880,  and 
from  Princeton  Theological  Seminary  in  1883.  While 
at  the  Seminary  he  received  the  degree  of  A.  M.  from 
Princeton  University  C'in  course.") 

He  was  Pastor  from  1883  to  1887,  of  the  First  Presby- 
terian Church  in  Rock  Hill,  S.  C. ;  from  1887  to  1895,  of 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church  in  Macon,  Ga.,  and  from 
1895  to  1898,  of  the  Central  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Louisville,  Ky.  He  was  with  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  in  Detroit,  Michigan,  from  1898  imtil  he  came  to 
Germantown  in  1906.  In  1890  he  travelled  in  Bible 
Lands  and  in  Europe  for  six  months.  At  Rock  Hill  and 
Macon  he  started  Chapel  services  which  grew  into  sepa- 


126  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

rate  Churches,  with  their  own  houses  of  worship.  During 
his  pastorate  in  Detroit,  a  Colony  was  sent  out  which 
formed  the  Highland  Park  Presbyterian  Church.  Dr. 
Jennings  has  been  more  than  once  a  Commissioner  to  the 
General  Assembly,  serving  on  the  Committee  which 
planned  for  the  Permanent  Judicial  Commission,  and  on 
that  which  prepared  the  Book  of  Common  Worship.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education,  and  of  the 
Assembly's  Special  Committee  on  Evangelistic  Work. 

Dr.  Jennings  was  installed  as  Pastor  of  this  Church  on 
October  10th,  1906.  At  that  service  the  sermon  was 
preached  by  the  Moderator  of  the  General  Assembly, 
Rev.  Dr.  William  H.  Roberts,  and  the  charges  were  given 
by  Rev.  Dr.  J.  Frederick  Dripps  and  Rev.  Professor 
Charles  R.  Erdman. 

The  Men's  Association  is  itself  a  proof  of  the  interest 
of  Dr.  Jennings  in  the  men  of  the  Church.  This  Asso- 
ciation was  formed  in  January,  1908,  with  a  membership 
of  more  than  two  hundred.  In  the  newspaper  account 
of  this  meeting  it  is  described  as  **the  result  of  plans 
made  by  the  Church's  active  and  popular  Pastor,  the 
Rev.  Wm.  Beatty  Jennings,  D.  D.  Several  weeks  pre- 
viously, a  few  of  the  most  active  layman  of  the  Congrega- 
tion met  him  at  the  Manse,  to  discuss  the  possibility  of 
such  an  organization,  and  planned  for  the  meeting." 
Its  members  have  co-operated  with  the  Board  of  Trus- 
tees in  decorating  the  Parish-house,  and  furnishing  its 
Reading-room  and  Gymnasium;  as  also  in  the  extensive 


'^^Bi  'i ' 


•ith  their  ^>wn  houses  o1 
^rate  in  Detrc 


Highla 
bas  been  t 
Assembly. 

•  for  the  Pe, 

i"  — 

that  which  prepay 


■sbvtenai 


romn. .: 
Comrai 

mmission,  and  v  a 
■r,  Worship,    lie 
-',  and  of   the 
c  Work. 
Church  on 


^^HE  REV.   WILLIAM  BEATTY   JENNINGS,  D.  f 


Charles  R.  Er. 

The  Men»s  Association  is  i 

,  vSSO- 

c\  Dr.  Jennings  in  the  men  k.>.  ...  ^     -.^^ 

-    -    -  ^  '-^.rrned  in  ^-.nuarv,  1908,  with  a  membership 
r^rcy  h.  newspaper  ace 


its  iv 

tees  u-  ^^v v., 

Reading-roo 


vvCensive 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  127 


decoration  of  the  Church  building  itself.  In  the  Ap- 
pendix to  this  volume  will  be  found  a  Report  from  the 
Men's  Association,  giving  a  more  particular  account  of 
its  various  operations. 

Another  line  of  effective  work  in  the  present  pastorate 
is  connected  with  the  recent  development  of  the  Somer- 
ville  Mission.  It  is  just  thirty-five  years  since  this 
Mission  was  started  in  October,  1874,  and  it  has  never 
been  in  better  condition  than  far  these  past  three  years, 
during  which  Dr.  Jennings  has  given  it  his  most  active 
help.  Like  the  *' Pulaski ville  Mission"  which  was  trans- 
formed into  the  "Westside  Presbyterian  Church,"  in 
the  twenty-second  year  after  its  organization  in  1870, 
the  Somerville  Mission  also  is  now  on  the  point  of  separa- 
tion from  the  Mother  Church,  in  order  to  an  independent 
Church  life. 

Plans  have  been  adopted,  and  are  ready  for  fulfillment 
in  the  immediate  future,  whereby  the  Eastminster 
Mission  of  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church,  and  our  own 
Somerville  Mission,  will  unite  to  form  a  new  Church. 
The  lot  has  already  been  purchased,  at  the  comer  of 
East  Chelten  Avenue  and  the  ''Limekiln  Pike,"  and  an 
edifice  is  to  be  created  shortly  thereon.  A  fund  of 
ten  thousand  dollars  has  been  raised  by  this  Church,  and 
the  same  amount  will  come  from  the  Second  Church,  so 
that  the  amoimt  to  be  raised  on  the  field  itself  is  not 
beyond  its  available  resources.  This  event  is  in  the 
highest  degree  gratifying,  even  though  the  Mother  Church 


128  THE    FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 


will  greatly  miss  the  long  continued  habit  of  caring  for 
this  her  child. 

A  retrospect  of  this  quarter-century  at  Somerville 
brings  to  view  much  devoted  work  and  many  faithful 
workers.  At  the  head  of  these  is  naturally  Mr.  Jacob 
C.  Bockius,  who  for  thirty  years  has  been  with  the  School, 
and  for  eighteen  years  has  been  not  only  the  Superin- 
tendent of  the  School,  but  the  efficient  leader  in  all  good 
work  on  the  entire  field.  Others  of  like  spirit  have  always 
surrounded  him,  and  no  Chtirch  could  wish  for  a  more  suc- 
cessful outpost  for  work  than  Somerville  has  been  to  us. 

We  are,  therefore,  brought  now  to  the  point  where 
we  are  called  to  look  arotmd  over  our  present  resources, 
and  forward  into  the  futiu*e. 

Our  material  and  physical  resources  are  not  to  be 
ignored.  Here  is  our  Church  building,  with  its  House 
of  Worship  for  the  congregation,  and  its  Apartments 
for  the  Simday  School  and  for  the  smaller  assemblies. 
The  Parish  House  with  its  various  rooms  for  classes  and 
clubs,  for  reading  and  gymnastics,  is  an  invaluable  help, 
and  the  Manse  which  has  just  been  purchased,  gives  to 
the  people  the  comfortable  sense  that  they  have  now 
provided  a  dignified  and  beautiful  home  for  their  Pastor 
and  his  family.  The  three  properties  make  up  a  plant 
which  is  worth  more  than  One  Himdred  and  Fifty  Thou- 
sand Dollars  in  money,  and  which  is  worth  more  than 
can  be  estimated,  in  the  way  of  available  resources  for 
Church  life  and  work. 


128 


WiJIi  greatly  niiss  the  long  continued  habit  of  canr/»:  for 
this  her  child. 

A   retrospect   of  t'  tter-centiiry  at   Some: 

brings  to  view  m^i-'r  --^  many  fai 

workers.     At  the  L  ally  Mr.  Ji^ 

C.  Bcckius,  who  for  tl^:.  en  with  the  School, 

and  for  eighteen  years  has  h  ly  the  Superin- 

'         ^ '  'in  all  good 

..  , :.  - ...  nave  always 

p'ji  1  could  w^sh  for  a  more  suc- 

has  been  to  us. 
THE   MANSE 

and  forward  i 
Our  material   and  physicsd   resources  arc 

ignored.     Here  is  our  Church  building,  t-louse 

of  Worship  for  the  <:  ntion,  and   as   ....-irt  merits 

for  tiie  Sunday  Schoo.  .-  ,     or  the  smaller  assemblies. 
The  Parish  House  with  its  various  rooms  for  classes 
clubs,  for  reading  and  gymnastics,  is  an  invalual 


and  a  p^ant 
which  I  ifty  Thou- 
sand r  ....  ^Vj-iYi 
can  be  for 
Church  lit 


IN   GERMANTOWN.  129 


The  financial  resources  which  are  available  may  be 
estimated  from  the  fact  that  the  contributions  for  the 
last  year,  1908-1909,  amounted  to  nearly  $25,000, 
and  for  the  last  forty  years  to  more  than  $1,000,000. 
This  is  significant,  not  of  mere  wealth,  but  of  readiness 
to  give  when  the  Master's  call  is  heard. 

The  enrolled  membership  of  communicants  is  another 
resource,  which  has  now,  within  these  three  years  of  the 
present  Pastorate,  advanced  beyond  the  fifteen-htmdred 
mark.  In  point  of  size,  this  has  come  to  be  among  the 
few  largest  churches  in  our  City.  What  still  un-mined 
resources  are  here! 

The  organization  of  the  Church  serves  to  increase  its 
resources  still  further.  These  many  himdreds  of  men, 
women  and  children,  are  not  left  as  mere  disorganized 
atoms,  but  are  skillfully  knit  together  as  members  of 
one  great  complex  body. 

The  Pastor  is  aided  by  an  Assistant  Minister  and  also 
by  the  Parish  Visitor  whom  the  Pastoral  Aid  Society 
supports.  There  are  thirteen  Elders  and  twelve  Trustees 
to  care  for  spiritual  and  financial  needs.  The  Church 
women  bring  together  tmder  the  general  name  of  the 
Pastoral  Aid  Society,  with  its  one  himdred  thirty-two 
members,  at  least  twenty-five  different  Societies  and 
Guilds  and  Committees,  most  of  them  large,  and  all  of 
them  alert  and  vigorous.  The  Men's  Association  with 
two  hundred  and  forty-nine  members,  is  at  work  through 
ten   committees   in   as   many  various   directions.    The 


130  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

Board  of  Ushers  has  an  enrolled  membership  of  twenty- 
seven  young  men.  The  Christian  Endeavor  Society 
reports  fifty  members,  acting  through  ten  Committees. 
There  are  twelve  members  of  this  Church  now  at  work 
as  Missionaries  on  the  Foreign  Field.  And,  not  only 
last,  but  first  of  all,  stands  the  Sunday  School. 

The  Home  School  reports  to-day  nine  himdred  and 
two  members,  and  the  Somerville  School  five  hundred 
and  eighty-one,  making  a  grand  total  of  fourteen  hun- 
dred and  eighty-three  teachers  and  pupils.  Of  the 
Home  School  there  are  four  hundred  and  twenty- 
eight  and  of  the  Somerville  School  one  himdred  and 
seventy-five,  who  are  commimicants  in  the  Church. 

The  expenses  of  the  school  are  still  paid  by  the  Congre- 
gation at  large,  so  that  all  gifts  brought  by  the  classes 
are  left  free  for  outside  benevolence.  These  gifts  for 
the  last  year  amounted  to  $1124.46.  There  are  various 
Departments,  Main,  Intermediate  and  Primary,  with 
that  for  Beginners  also,  and  the  Home  Department. 
The  School  maintains  a  "Bible  Study  Class,"  which  is 
really  a  Normal  School  in  two  Departments,  for  the  sys- 
tematic training  of  young  men  and  women  to  be  Sunday- 
school  Teachers  and  Church  Workers. 

It  is  of  course  conceivable  that  a  history  which  went 
deeper  than  mere  external  events,  might  disclose  in  the 
people  a  spirit  of  self-seeking  and  self -glorying,  occasioned 
by  this  very  prosperity.  But  in  point  of  fact,  the  present 
historian  has  full  warrant  for  setting  down  as  part  of 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  131 


the  record,  that  this  has  not  been  the  spirit  which  has 
prompted  either  our  leaders  or  the  Church  as  a  whole. 
The  real  defect  and  danger  has  always  been  and  is  now 
of  another  sort  entirely.  It  has  come  from  a  tendency 
to  forget  what  an  tmspeakable  honor  it  is,  for  a  man  to 
be  in  membership  with  any  part  of  that  great  "Church 
of  God,  which  He  hath  purchased  with  His  own  blood. " 
There  may  be  discerned  the  signs  of  a  failure  on  the  part 
of  its  members  to  value  their  place  in  the  Church  ade- 
quately, and  to  search  out  and  perform  with  diligence 
the  duties  which  grow  out  of  that  relationship.  But 
there  have  not  been  lacking,  repeated  Providential 
interruptions  of  such  placid  drifting,  by  which  a  new  turn 
has  been  given  to  the  course  of  affairs.  So  it  has  been 
when  a  new  Pastor  came,  or  a  new  field  of  work  was 
entered,  or  an  addition  made  to  the  plant,  calling  for 
new  adjustments  and  activities. 

Such  a  Providential  call  to  newness  of  life  comes  also 
with  this  Centennial  season,  during  which  the  Church  has 
been  making  further  history.  It  has  been  a  call  to  look 
backward  and  see  what  a  sincere  and  warm  interest  has 
been  taken  in  this  Church,  and  is,  of  course,  now  taken 
in  it,  by  the  Lord  of  us  all.  It  is  vindoubtedly  true  that 
every  one  of  our  sister  Churches  could  discern  from  its 
own  history  many  a  token  of  Divine  care,  peculiar  to 
itself:  but  that  is  all  the  more  reason  why  each  should 
search  out  and  heed  what  God  has  thus  done  for  each. 
Since  God  Himself  has  taken  such  interest  in  it,  beyond 


132  THE   FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

all  question  our  own  interest  in  the  Church  should  be 
greater  than  ever  before,  and  it  should  be  expressed 
not  only  in  transient  emotion,  but  in  lasting  service. 

The  kinds  of  service  which  He  seeks  from  us  are  not 
hard  to  find. 

It  is  still  an  experiment,  when  a  Church  refrains  from 
assessing  pew  rents,  and  makes  appeal  for  free  will  offer- 
ing from  all  its  members.  Here  is  a  call  upon  each  mem- 
ber in  particular,  to  see  that  this  worthy  and  Christian 
experiment  shall  succeed,  by  a  responsive  liberality  from 
each  and  every  one.  The  present  size  of  the  Church, 
and  its  past  record,  bring  to  it  continual  calls  for  further 
giving.  Let  us  each  be  ready  to  make  reply  with  just 
such  words  as  were  actually  used  by  one  of  our  business 
men — "You  need  not  apologize  for  making  such  a 
request.  If  you  can  help  me  to  see  that  our  common 
Lord  wants  me  to  help  your  cause,  and  how  much  He 
expects  me  to  give,  you  shall  have  it  at  once  and  very 
willingly."  There  is  need  here,  as  in  all  other  congre- 
gations, that  each  in  the  mass  shall  faithfully  do  his  own 
part,  and  not  seek  excuse  for  leaving  all  to  be  done  by 
the  few. 

Through  these  forty  years  past,  the  Church  has  had 
a  wide  outlet  for  its  activities,  and  abundant  access  to 
imconverted  souls,  through  the  services  of  its  Missions, 
one  of  which  is  now  an  independent  Church,  and  the 
other  of  which  is  just  about  to  become  such.  But  the 
membership  of  the  Home  Church  itself  is  scattered  all 


IN   GERMANTOWN.  133 


over  Germantown,  and  there  is  more  urgent  need  than 
ever  before  in  this  generation,  that  each  one  shall  be 
active  in  personal  work.  It  may  be  that  God  will  thus 
guide  us  into  a  new  Mission  work,  in  some  unoccupied 
field  which  we  have  not  yet  recognized ;  but  in  any  case, 
and  even  without  the  advantage  of  such  organization, 
the  Lord  of  the  Harvest  calls  for  followers  who  will  not 
only  give  gifts,  but  will  do  active  spiritual  work. 

And,  as  the  Alpha  and  Omega  of  all  our  service,  there 
is  a  call  to  maintain  our  Public  Worship,  by  seeing  to 
it  that  there  are  no  empty  pews  and  no  cold  imspiritual 
worshippers.  "They  that  wait  upon  the  Lord,  shall 
renew  their  strength."  Our  history  is  in  vain  imless 
it  show  God's  call  for  such  service,  and  His  readiness 
to  inspire  it.  The  chapters  of  Church  History  found  in 
the  Bible  itself,  contain  many  such  messages  from  God, 
and  in  fact  each  of  them  is  in  itself  just  such  a  message, 
and  has  this  for  its  chief  object.  This  present  appeal 
needs,  therefore,  no  apology.  Our  own  history  is  a 
record  of  God's  leading  and  man's  following  in  the  Past, 
expressly  in  order  to  a  far  better  following  of  this  Leader 
in  the  Present  and  Future. 

The  Centennial  Services  held  in  October,  1909,  indicate 
no  unworthy  response  to  this  Divine  call. 

From  the  first  service,  at  which  there  was  a  full  Church, 
up  to  those  of  the  closing  day,  when  there  was  not  enough 
standing  room  for  the  waiting  crowds,  the  attendance 
was   beyond   all  that   could   well   have  been  expected. 


134  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

The  Communion  of  the  Lord's  Supper  at  the  first  service, 
showed  a  spirit  of  reverential  worship,  which  marked 
all  the  succeeding  days.  At  the  Reception  on  Saturday 
evening,  there  was  a  great  multitude  present  to  enjoy 
the  music,  and  to  greet  one  another,  but  first  of  all  to 
extend  hearty  congratulations  to  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Jennings 
upon  the  unqualified  success  of  the  whole  celebration. 
Willing  activities  were  put  forth  on  every  hand,  for  the 
numberless  details  which  required  them,  and  there  was 
abundant  response  to  every  call  from  the  Minister  and 
his  fellow  workers.  Regard  for  the  Church  and  its 
hundred-year  history,  was  accentuated  by  affectionate 
loyalty  to  the  Pastor  himself.  Gifts  were  brought  in 
from  every  side,  in  large  sums  from  those  able  so  to  give, 
and  in  sums  proportionate  to  their  ability  by  the  people 
at  large.  Toward  one  fund  in  particular,  more  than 
four  hundred  different  persons  contributed.  More  than 
enough  was  contributed  to  raise  a  Centennial  Fund  of 
Twenty  Thousand  Dollars,  of  which  Ten  Thousand 
Dollars  were  for  a  farewell  gift  to  the  Somerville  Mission, 
and  the  other  Ten  Thousand  were  for  Centennial  pur- 
poses, and  especially  for  paying  off  all  remaining  indebted- 
ness on  the  plant  of  the  Home  Church. 

The  Church  of  this  first  century  has  therefore  done 
what  it  can,  to  free  the  second  century  from  all  incum- 
brance, and  to  provide  it  with  all  available  resources. 

The  Centennial  Program  and  Addresses  follow  here- 
after. 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  135 


••  Remember  the  days  of  old. 
Consider  the  years  of  many  generations." — Deut.  32 :  7. 

1809—1909 

THE   CENTENNIAL 

ANNIVERSARY  CELEBRATION 

OF    THE 

FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

IN 

GERMANTOWN,   PHILADELPHIA 

OCTOBER  THIRTEENTH  TO  SEVENTEENTH 

W.   BEATTY    JENNINGS,  D.D.,   Minister 
BENJAMIN  F.  FARBER,  Assistant  Minister 


WEDNESDAY,  OCTOBER  13. 

8  o'clock  P.  M. 

Service  of  Thanksgiving  and  Communion. 

Prelude — "Elevation" Guilmant 

Invocation,  Closing  with  the  Lord's  Prayer. 
Responsive  Reading — The  Psalter,  Selection  42. 

Hymn  139 — "All  Hail  the  Power  of  Jesus'  Name" Perrone 

Scripture  Lesson — Psalm  96. 

Address  of  Thanksgiving — "The  Church  and  its  Past." 
Rev.  J.  Frederick  Dripps,  D.  D. 

Anthem — "Bread   of   the   World" Franz 

Address  Before  the  Communion, 

The  Minister. 
Hymn  409—' '  For  All  Thy  Saints  Who  from  Their  Labors  Rest " . .  How 
The  Lord's  Supper. 

Hymn  425— "Blest  Be  the  Tie  That  Binds" Fawcett 

Benediction. 

PosTLUDE — "Fugue  on  the  Name  'Bach'" Schumann 


136  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 


THURSDAY,  OCTOBER  14. 

8  o'clock  P.  M. 

Prelude — ' '  Coronation. ' ' 

Invocation,  Closing  with  the  Lord's  Prayer. 

Responsive  Reading — The  Psalter,  Selection  22. 

Anthem — "Sing  Praises  Unto  the  Lord" Cruikshank 

Hymn  162 — "Crown  Him  With  Many  Crowns" Bridges 

Scripture  Lesson. 
Prayer. 

Solo   (Soprano) — "Miriam's  Song  of  Triumph" Reinecke 

Sermon — "The  World-wide  Church  of  Christ," 

Rev.  William  R.  Richards,  D.D. 

the    brick    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH,    NEW    YORK. 

Prayer. 

Hymn  401— "Christ  for  the  World  We  Sing" Wolcott 

Benediction. 

Postlude — "Finale  to  the  Fifth  Symphony" Beethoven 


FRIDAY,  OCTOBER  15. 

8  o'clock  P.  M. 

Prelude — "Grand  OflEertoire" Batiste 

Invocation,  Closing  with  the  Lord's  Prayer. 
Responsive  Reading — The  Psalter,  Selection  72. 

Anthem — "O  How  Amiable  Are  Thy  Dwellings" West 

Hymn  307 — "O  Where  Are  Kings  and  Empires  Now?" Coxe 

Scripture  Lesson. 
Prayer. 

Solo   (Tenor) — "Sing  Ye  Praise" Mendelssohn 

Sermon — "The  Church  and  the  Community." 

Rev.  Charles  Wood,  D.D. 

church    of    the    covenant,    WASHINGTON,    D.    C. 

Prayer. 

Hymn  298 — "Glorious  Things  of  Thee  Are  Spoken" Newton 

Benediction. 

Postlude — "March  For  a  Church  Festival" Best 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  137 


SATURDAY,  OCTOBER  16. 

8  o'clock  P.  M. 

RECEPTION. 

All  Members  of  the  Church  and  Congregation 
ARE  Cordially  Invited. 


SUITOAY,  OCTOBER  17. 

9.30  o'clock  A.  M. 

SUNDAY   SCHOOL   CELEBRATION. 

Prelude — "Allegretto" W  olstenholme 

Processional — "We  March,  We  March  to  Victory." 
Prayer,  Closing  with  the  Lord's  Prayer. 

Hymn  354— "The  Son  of  God  Goes  Forth  to  War" Heher 

Responsive  Reading — The  Psalter,  Selection  6, 

Hymn  352 — "Lead  On,  O  King  Eternal" Shurtleff 

Address. 

Rev.  George  B.  Stewart, 
president  of  auburn  theological  seminary,  n.  y. 
Prayer. 

Hymn  369 — "O  Jesus,  I  Have  Promised" Bode 

Benediction. 

Postlude — "Priest's  March" Mendelssohn 


138  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 


SUNDAY.  OCTOBER  17. 

1 1  o'clock  A.  M. 

Prelude — *'  Hallelujah  Chorus " Handel 

DoxoLOGY — "Praise  God  from  Whom  All  Blessings  Flow." 

Invocation,  Closing  with  the  Lord's  Prayer. 

Responsive  Reading — The  Psalter,  Selection  57. 

Hymn  113 — **0  Worship  the  King  All  Glorious  Above"  Grant 

Scripture  Lesson. 

Prayer. 

Hymn  408— "We  Come  Unto  Our  Father's  God" Gill 

The  Apostles'  Creed. 
Announcements. 

The  Offertory — "Largo" Handel 

Solo  (Bass)— "The  Publican" Van  de  Walter 

Sermon — "The  Church  of  To-day," 

Rev.  Henry  van  Dyke,  D.D.,  LL.D., 

professor    of    ENGLISH    LITERATURE    IN    PRINCETON    UNIVERSITY. 

Prayer. 

Hymn   100— "All  People  That  on  Earth  Do  Dwell" Kethe 

Benediction. 

PosTLUDE — "Allegro  from  the  Sixth  Sonata" Mendelssohn 

The  Offering  is  for  the  Centennial  Fund. 


SUNDAY,  OCTOBER  17. 

4  o'clock  P.  M. 

MEETING   IN   THE    INTEREST   OF   THE   SUNDAY 

SCHOOL   AND   YOUNG   PEOPLES'    WORK. 

Prelude — "Triumphal  March" Leminers 

Invocation,  Closing  with  the  Lord's  Prayer. 
Responsive  Reading — The  Psalter,  Selection  29. 

Solo  (Bass) — " Pilgrim's  Song" T schaikowsky 

Hymn   156 — "Shepherd  of  Tender  Youth" Clement 

Scripture  Lesson. 
Prayer. 

Solo  (Contralto) — "O  Y^e  That  Love  the  Lord" Barnhy 

Address.  Rev.  Alexander  Henry,  D.D., 

secretary  of  the  board  of  publication  and  sunday-school  work. 

Prayer. 

Hymn  308 — "Saviour,  Who  Thy  Flock  Art  Feeding".  .  .  Muhlenhurg 

Benediction. 

PosTLUDE — "  Hosannab ! " Dubois 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  139 


SUNDAY,  OCTOBER  17. 

8  o'clock  P.  M. 

Prelude — "Concert  Overture " Faulkes 

Invocation,  Closing  with  the  Lord's  Prayer. 
Responsive  Reading — The  Psalter,  Selection  58. 

Anthem — "Fear  Not,  O  Israel" Spicker 

Hymn  121 — "A  Mighty  Fortress  is  Our  God" Luther 

Scripture  Lesson. 
Prayer. 

The  Offertory — "In  Paradisum" Dubois 

Solo  (Soprano)— "I  Will  Extol  Thee,  O  Lord" Costa 

Sermon — "The  Church  of  Christ," 

Rev.  Charles  R.  Erdman, 

professor    of    practical    theology    in    PRINCETON 
theological    SEMINARY. 

Prayer. 

Quartette  and  Chorus — "The  Lord  is  My  Light" Parker 

Hymn  349 — "Take  My  Life  and  Let  it  Be" Havergal 

Benediction. 

Postlude — "Toccata" Widor 


140  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 


A  THANKSGIVING  ADDRESS 

By  Rev.  J.  Frederick  Dripps,  D.D, 

THE  CHURCH  AND   ITS  PAST. 

When  the  High  Priest  offered  up  sacrifice  on  the  great 
Day  of  Atonement,  we  are  told  that  he  was  to  offer  up 
first  for  himself,  and  then  for  the  people.  In  order  to 
lead  their  worship  aright,  he  needed  first  of  all  to  be  in 
sympathy  with  them. 

On  the  same  principle,  when  the  people  of  this  Church 
are  to  be  led  in  their  first  service  of  Centennial  Thanks- 
giving, it  is  not  amiss  for  the  speaker  to  offer  first  for 
himself  a  personal  thanksgiving.  As  the  Church  looks 
back  over  the  past  hundred  years,  the  present  speaker 
looks  back  over  the  past  forty  years,  to  the  day  when  he 
made  his  first  address  from  your  pulpit,  in  October,  1869. 
It  may  serve  to  assure  you  that  whatever  else  may  be 
lacking,  I  have  at  least  the  qualification  of  a  deep  and 
heartfelt  sympathy  with  this  assembly  to-night.  I  can 
most  sincerely  join  your  Doxology,  and  in  view  of  His 
great  goodness  through  these  bygone  years,  can  sing 
with  you — ''Praise  God  from  whom  all  blessings  flow." 

Let  me  read  God's  own  direction  for  the  observance 
of  a  Jubilee. 

**Then  shalt  thou  cause  the  trumpet  of  the  jubilee  to 
soimd — in  the  day  of  atonement — ^And  ye  shall  hallow 
the  fiftieth  year,  and  proclaim  liberty  throughout  all  the 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  141 


land  unto  all  the  inhabitants  thereof ;  and  ye  shall  return 
every  man  unto  his  possession,  and — ^ye  shall  eat  the 
increase  thereof  out  of  the  field." 

Every  fifty  years,  there  was  to  be  a  trumpet  call. 
The  fiftieth  year  was  to  be  "hallowed":  it  was  to  be 
given  up  to  God,  and  kept  tmder  His  special  direction. 
A  life  of  liberty  and  of  restoration  and  of  abtindance  was 
ready  for  them  in  that  year  by  God's  free  gift.  And  it 
was  after  seven  times  seven  years  of  God's  tender  mercy 
in  the  past,  that  they  were  called  to  this  service  of  Thanks- 
giving and  new  consecration. 

So  it  is  with  this  Church  at  our  second  Jubilee, — our 
first  Centennial.  Its  chief  object  is,  to  renew  our  conse- 
cration to  the  service  of  God,  in  the  extension  of  his 
Kingdom. 

And  in  order  to  his  receiving  from  us  this  better 
service,  we  ask  Him  to  give  us  His  own  personal  Pres- 
ence, that  in  Him  we  may  find  that  new  liberty  and 
that  spiritual  home,  and  that  Divinely  abundant  supply, 
which  befit  our  Jubilee  life. 

And  for  us  also,  this  call  and  this  promise  for  the 
Future,  are  reinforced  and  confirmed  by  our  experience 
in  the  Past.  Through  all  these  hundred  years,  God  has 
not  been  to  blame  for  any  failure,  and  God  has  been  the 
giver  of  every  success. 

When  Paul  and  Barnabas  had  finished  a  certain  period 
in  their  Mission  work,  they  gathered  the  Church  to- 
gether,  and  rehearsed  all  that   *'God-with-them"   had 


142  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

done.  They  said,  in  effect,  ''It  is  not  we  who  did  these 
things,  but  God  with  us,  Immanuel."  There  is  no  other 
way  in  which  to  speak  or  write,  to  read  or  understand 
Church  History.  It  is  the  story  of  Immanuel,  of  God 
with  us.  Unless  we  find  "Jesus  in  the  midst"  we  have 
missed  the  clue  to  everything  else. 

There  is  no  other  way  to  account  for  the  continued 
identity  of  the  Church.  Here  is  our  ti*ue  warrant  for 
declaring  that  this  Church  of  1909  is  really  that  Church 
of  1809,  come  of  age,  and  attaining  its  Centennial. 

Of  the  total  list  of  one  thousand  five  hundred  and 
twenty-six  members  reported  by  this  Church  in  1909, 
not  over  a  dozen  were  on  the  roll  when  I  came  here 
forty  years  ago.  Not  more  than  five  per  cent,  were 
here  even  when  I  left,  thirty  years  ago,  and  the  great 
majority  came  much  more  recently.  There  has  been  a 
perpetual  coming  and  going.  In  view  of  this,  it  might 
seem  that  there  could  not  be  any  real  tmity  or  identity 
across  these  forty  years,  much  less  across  the  whole  cen- 
tury. As  well  speak  of  unity,  some  would  say,  among 
the  shifting  occupants  of  a  railway  station  or  a  train  of 
cars.  And  in  fact,  some  Churches  have  not  shown  any 
vigorous  and  lasting  unity ;  when  the  popiilar  pastor  has 
gone  or  the  fine  edifice  has  burned,  the  whole  congrega- 
tion is  utterly  dissolved.  But  that  never  happens  where 
there  is  a  living  and  true  Church.  Members  come  and  go 
like  the  atoms  in  a  htunan  body,  but  the  body  itself  is 
the  same  identical  body  through^all  these  changes. 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  143 


That  is  essentially  the  very  illustration  used  in  Scrip- 
ture to  declare  the  unity  and  identity  of  the  Christ-Body, 
the  Church.  A  man's  own  body  is  ever  the  same  body, 
because  it  has  ever  within  it  the  same  living  spirit ;  and 
the  Church  of  Christ  is  ever  the  same  Church,  because 
it  has  ever  within  it  the  same  living  Spirit. 

You  remember  that  the  vision  of  the  seven  Churches 
in  Asia  Minor  was  that  of  "seven  golden  candlesticks, 
and  in  the  midst  of  the  seven  candlesticks  One  like  imto 
the  Son  of  Man."  And  when  this  Son  of  Man  sent  a 
letter  to  each  of  those  Churches,  He  revealed  Himself 
as  the  Spirit  of  the  Church,  saying,  ''  He  that  hath  an  ear 
let  him  hear  what  The  Spirit  saith  unto  the  Churches." 

It  was  the  spiritual  presence  of  Jesus  Christ  which  gave 
any  real  tmity  to  Churth  life  in  Asia  Minor,  through  that 
age  of  the  apostles  and  of  the  martyrs.  Each  partictdar 
congregation  had  His  Presence  in  the  midst ;  and  in  each, 
that  Divine  Presence  revealed  itself  with  an  aspect  not 
seen  in  any  other.  Even  by  the  common  light  of  this 
world,  we  can  see  that  every  one  of  those  Churches  had  a 
life  and  character  and  spirit  of  its  own ;  and  in  the  light 
of  Heaven  we  can  see  that  each  had  a  manifestation  of 
the  Divine  Spirit,  peculiar  to  that  Church,  and  suited  to 
its  place  in  Christ's  Body. 

As  there  was  a  spirit  of  its  own  in  the  Church  of  Asia 
Minor,  so  there  is  in  the  Church  of  England  and  Scotland, 
of  Holland  and  Germany,  and  of  America.  As  each  of 
the  seven  Churches  in  the  province  of  Asia  had  a  Christian 


144  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

life  and  spirit  of  its  own,  so  has  every  Church  in  America, 
and  in  Germantown.  This  Church,  in  the  Year  of  our 
Lord  1909,  is  the  same  as  that  Church  in  the  Year  of  our 
Lord  1809,  because  the  same  Divine  Personality  is  in 
the  midst  of  it.  There  are  diversities  of  gifts,  because 
there  is  the  same  Spirit.  The  unity  and  identity  and 
individuality  of  this  Church,  as  of  every  other  Church, 
is  in  "  the  Lord  the  Spirit."  In  Him  we  all  have  one  life, 
yet  in  Him  each  has  the  common  life  in  a  form  peculiar 
to  itself.  Though  there  is  not  a  different  Christ  in  each 
Church,  yet  there  is  a  distinct  manifestation  of  Christ  in 
each. 

The  permanent  individuality  which  may  thus  be  pro- 
duced, is  to  be  seen  on  a  large  scale  in  such  a  Church  as 
that  of  Charles  H.  Spurgeon.  During  the  long  years  of 
his  leadership  there,  through  all  minor  variations  that 
Church  kept  the  same  essential  life  and  spirit,  peculiar 
to  itself.  Its  work  and  worship  could  never  be  mistaken 
for  that  of  any  other  congregation.  Such  a  restdt  came, 
not  from  Spurgeon,  but  from  Christ  living  in  Spurgeon — 
living  in  him  as  really  as  He  did  in  Paul  or  in  Luther, 
each  of  whom  embodied  a  manifestation  of  Christ  en- 
tirely distinct  from  that  made  through  any  other  man. 
Nor  does  such  a  congregation  lose  its  tmique  life  and 
spirit,  when  the  Lord  takes  home  to  Himself  the  Pastor 
through  whom  it  was  first  developed.  He  may  give 
other  Pastors  still,  in  long  succession,  each  with  vari- 
ations of  his  own,  but  all  continuing  the  same  distinct 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  145 


theme.  For  the  Lord  loves  the  Church  as  a  man  loves 
his  own  body,  and  each  of  its  congregations  has  a  place 
in  His  heart,  peculiar  to  itself.  We  ought  to  take  far 
more  seriously  than  we  do,  our  membership  in  the  par- 
ticular congregation  to  which  the  great  Captain  has 
assigned  us. 

As  a  Church  of  Christ,  our  first  and  chief  matter  for 
Thanksgiving  is  this,  that  through  these  hundred  years 
He  has  been  with  us.  In  Him  we  have  had  "the  tmity 
of  the  Spirit  in  the  bond  of  peace."  Our  very  existence 
as  a  Church,  and  all  which  made  it  worth  while  to  exist, 
is  from  Jesus  in  the  midst.  Thanks  be  unto  God  for  His 
unspeakable  Gift ! 

The  results  produced  in  this  Church,  by  that  special 
presence  and  influence  of  the  Christ-Spirit,  are  far  too 
numerous  to  be  mentioned  at  this  time.  I  have  given 
the  last  few  months  very  largely  to  studying  these  out 
and  writing  them  down.  For  details  I  shall  have  to  refer 
you  to  the  book  which  has  thus  been  written.  Yet  there 
may  be  mentioned  in  closing,  some  three  or  four  of  the 
good  gifts  which  have  been  added  to  that  great  Divine 
Gift,  and  produced  by  it. 

"He  gave  some,  Pastors  and  Teachers"  here,  as  He 
did  at  Ephesus.  e.  g.,  The  sixty  years  which  were  spent 
in  the  old  Church  building,  were  covered  by  the  long 
continued  services  of  three  men  who  were  given  by  the 
Lord  to  this  Church.  It  is  not  unfit  to  single  out  for  spe- 
cial mention  the  names  of  Dr.  Samuel  Blair  and  Dr. 


146  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

William  Neill  and  Dr.  James  H.  Mason  Knox.  And  even 
those  whom  He  sent  here  for  a  brief  time,  were  often  men 
of  great  power,  like  Dr.  Junkin  and  Dr.  Van  Dyke. 

The  same  Lord  who  gave  these  and  other  ministers, 
gave  also  a  great  company  of  Members — adding  to  the 
Church  continually  such  as  were  being  saved.  During 
the  last  forty  years,  to  go  no  further  back,  the  member- 
ship has  risen  from  two  hundred  sixty-six  to  fifteen  hun- 
dred twenty-six.  For  this  also  we  give  thanks  to  God. 
It  is  not  merely  that  names  have  been  added  to  a  roll  of 
members,  but  that  the  Spiritual  Temple  has  been  built 
up  with  living  stones.  To  say  nothing  of  those  who  yet 
remain  with  us  on  earth,  consider  those  redeemed  saints 
who  have  passed  into  their  Heavenly  reward.  Let  us 
thank  God  for  the  graces  with  which  He  blessed  them, 
and  blessed  us  through  them. 

Let  us  thank  God  further,  on  behalf  of  this  Church,  that 
he  has  given  it  so  many  diligent  Workers,  and  organized 
bodies  of  workers.  Look  at  the  Sunday  School  and  the 
Christian  Endeavor  Society,  at  the  Men's  Association  and 
the  Ladies'  Pastoral  Aid  Society ;  we  can  afford  to  thank 
God  for  them  all.  Take  as  one  instance,  the  Mission- 
School  work,  which  has  produced  one  Church  on  the 
West  Side,  and  is  now  producing  a  Church  on  the  East 
Side  of  Germantown.  Take  as  another  instance,  the 
Pastoral  Aid  Society,  which  is  at  work  through  twenty- 
five  distinct  branches,  and  which  has  received  and  used 
gifts  amounting  to  more  than  $150,000. 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  147 


When  Paul  wrote  his  Epistles  to  Corinth,  he  counted 
up  the  grace  of  Liberality,  as  being  in  itself  one  of  the 
good  gifts  which  God  had  made  to  His  Churches.  We 
may  therefore  mention  this,  among  our  own  matters  for 
Thanksgiving.  Without  including  an3rthing  earlier  than 
1869,  this  Church  has  contributed  for  religious  and  benev- 
olent objects,  during  the  past  forty  years,  more  than  one 
million  dollars.  The  greater  part  of  this  sum  has  gone 
for  Mission  work  and  similar  purposes,  outside  of  the  con- 
gregation itself.  To  state  this  more  exactly,  the  total 
contributions  from  1869  to  1909  were  $1,042,081;  of 
which  $586,196  went  to  outside  objects. 

This  does  not  include  the  sum  of  twenty  thousand 
dollars,  which  is  now  preparing,  as  a  Centennial  gift  for 
the  new  Church  in  East  German  town,  and  for  the  better 
equipment  of  the  Home  Church  itself. 

You  and  I,  and  the  whole  community,  can  afford  to 
thank  God  for  this  Church,  and  for  the  good  which  He 
has  wrought  through  it.  That  is  not  in  the  least  a  mere 
form  of  self-gratulation ;  for  it  never  has  been  true,  that 
you  and  I  and  the  other  ministers  and  members  were  the 
whole  fact,  or  the  chief  fact,  in  this  Church.  This  Church 
of  Christ  is  a  living  Body,  whose  life  comes  from  the 
Spiritual  Presence  of  Jesus  in  the  midst.  All  these  good 
fruits  did  truly  come  from  His  Presence,  while  the  de- 
fects and  shortcomings  are  from  ourselves  alone. 

For  the  second  time,  the  fiftieth  year  is  to  be  hallowed 
by  this  Church.     Our  Lord  Himself  sends  forth  a  trumpet 


148  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

call  to  a  Christian  Jubilee.  He  has  fitted  you  out  well, 
with  officers  and  workers,  with  buildings  and  apparatus 
and  resources,  with  a  great  company  of  members;  and 
He  has  provided  for  you  in  full  abundance  those  varied 
spiritual  gifts,  which  He  gives  to  all  who  will  accept  and 
use  them.  This  is  truly  a  gifted  Church,  and  its  gifts 
are  not  merely  to  be  enjoyed,  but  to  be  used.  Let  this 
time  of  Thanksgiving  be  a  time  of  new  consecration. 

To  reassure  us,  as  we  look  onward  into  the  new  cen- 
tury, we  need  no  other  word  than  that  which  John  Wesley 
spoke,  as  he  looked  back  over  the  way  by  which  God  had 
led  him  and  his  Churches,  and  then  looked  forward,  and 
with  his  dying  breath  exclaimed,  "  The  best  of  all  is,  God 
IS  WITH  us." 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  149 


SERMON. 

By  Rev.  William  R.  Richards,  D.D. 

You  may  find  a  text  for  the  theme  which  has  already 
been  stated  to  you  in  the  words  of  the  Psalmist,  the 
eighth  verse  of  the  Seventy-second  Psalm,  "He  shall 
have  dominion  also  from  sea  to  sea,  and  from  the  river 
unto  the  ends  of  the  earth" — a  world-wide  kingdom 
promised  to  our  King. 

You  have  come  together  here,  and  invited  us  to  come 
with  you,  and  we  are  glad  to  come,  in  order  to  celebrate 
a  century  of  blessed  experience  as  a  church  of  Jesus 
Christ.  Such  an  occasion,  while  it  is  full  of  gladness, 
also  starts  one's  mind  into  certain  inquiries,  "What  is 
a  Church  of  Jesus  Christ?"  and  "What  is  it  for?" 

In  answer  to  that  first  question,  as  to  what  it  is,  many 
of  us  perhaps  would  be  reminded  of  the  familiar  words 
which  we  have  been  taught,  that  the  Church  is  made 
up  of  "all  those  throughout  the  world  who  profess  the  true 
religion,  together  with  their  children."  That  may  be 
a  sufficient  definition  of  what  the  Church  in  its  entirety 
is,  and  any  particular  Church  is  a  particular  part  of  that 
body. 

But  if  you  try  to  answer  the  other  question,  what 
the  Church  is  for,  our  past  instructions  have  not  given 
us  so  definite  and  satisfactory  a  reply.  What  is  the 
Church   for?     I   remember   in   my   childhood   seeing   a 


150  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

picture  of  the  Church  represented  under  the  figure  of  a 
boat  out  on  a  stormy  sea,  the  waters  of  the  sea  being 
filled  with  wretched  creatures  who  were  sinking  and 
perishing.  In  the  boat  were  certain  monks — the  picture 
being  evidently  the  work  of  a  Roman  Catholic — ^who 
were  drawing  a  very  few  of  those  victims  out  of  the 
perils  of  the  deep.  And  the  impression  of  the  picture 
would  be  that  the  chief  interest  of  those  of  us  who  are 
not  monks,  or  priests,  or  parsons — mere  common  sin- 
ners— the  chief  interest  that  we  should  take  in  the  Church 
would  be  as  a  sort  of  contrivance  into  which  perhaps 
we  might  climb,  or  be  lifted,  for  our  own  safety.  Well, 
there  is  a  certain  degree  of  truth  in  that  representation; 
but  we  are  coming  to  feel  more  and  more  profoundly 
that  no  such  answer  as  that  to  the  question  what  the 
Church  is  for,  would  be  altogether  satisfying  to  a  faith- 
ful member  of  the  Church.  As  a  minister  in  New  York 
has  said, — and  he  has  said  a  good  many  things  that  are 
likely  to  be  remembered,  but  he  never  said  anything 
better  worth  remembering  than  when  he  declared  that 
a  minister  ought  to  regard  his  Church  "not  as  his  field, 
but  as  his  force."  The  Church  is  not  the  field  of  a  min- 
ister's labor;  it  is  his  force.  The  field,  according  to  the 
best  authority,  is  the  world ;  it  is  the  world  lying  around 
about  the  Church ;  and  the  Church  is  the  force  by  which 
under  God's  grace  that  world  is  to  be  won  for  Jesus 
Christ.  So,  in  answer  to  the  question  what  the  Church 
is  for,  we  shall  not  be  satisfied  until  we  reach  some  form 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  iSl 


of  words  which  brings  out  the  idea  that  the  Church  is 
for  that  very  purpose — ^winning  that  world  around  about 
itself  for  Christ. 

But  after  you  have  gotten  that  question  answered, 
there  are  other  questions  that  suggest  themselves;  and 
I  do  not  know  why  an  anniversary  like  this,  when  you 
rather  stop  and  take  account  of  stock,  should  not  be  a 
good  opportunity  for  trying  to  settle  some  of  them.  How 
much  of  that  surrounding  field  of  the  world  is  any  par- 
ticular Church  to  take  into  its  own  view  as  included  in 
the  purpose  of  its  own  being?  As  to  that,  there  have 
been  in  the  past  various  limitations  in  the  minds  of 
Christians.  A  certain  part  of  the  world  they  thought 
constituted  the  field  throughout  which  they  might  put 
forth  hopeful  effort,  but  other  parts  they  might  safely 
leave  alone.  There  were  times  when  there  seemed  to 
be  more  or  less  of  a  doctrinal  limitation  of  the  field.  We 
were  taught  about  the  elect.  The  elect  were  the  part 
of  the  world  that  the  Church  might  hope  to  win  for  Jesus 
Christ,  if  we  could  only  tell  who  they  were;  and  all  the 
rest,  the  non-elect,  lay  beyond  the  reach  of  our  hopeful 
endeavor. 

But  the  limitation  no  longer  satisfies  the  Christian 
conscience.  When  we  study  that  ancient  and  venerable 
doctrine  in  the  person  of  the  first  man  chosen  of  God 
to  be  the  father  of  all  the  elect,  we  can  never  now  forget 
that  the  privilege  offered  to  him  was  with  the  express 
purpose  that  in  him  ''all  the  nations  of  the  earth  might 


152  THE   FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

be  blessed."  The  peculiar  election  of  that  one  man,  or 
of  any  other  man,  or  of  any  company  of  men,  or  any 
peculiar  privilege  which  they  received  but  never  deserved 
from  God,  is  not  because  of  some  partiality  toward  them, 
but  because,  in  the  wise  purposes  of  God,  they  are  selected 
for  the  sake  of  some  benefit  that  God  has  designed — I 
quote  the  words  of  Scripture — "to  all  the  nations  of  the 
earth;"  the  privilege  of  the  elect  being  for  the  ultimate 
blessing  of  those  who,  for  the  time  being,  have  been  passed 
by.  So  we  cannot  be  any  longer  satisfied,  and  of  easy 
conscience,  to  draw  that  sort  of  limitation  around  the 
field,  and  say  that  here  we  will  put  forth  our  effort,  but 
out  there  there  is  nothing  for  us  to  do. 

But,  then,  there  have  been  other  limitations,  limita- 
tions of  racial  prejudice,  Jew  against  Gentile,  or  Gentile 
against  Jew,  white  man  against  black  man,  or  against 
red  man,  or  against  yellow  man,  or  vice  versa,  limits 
within  which  we  are  willing  to  recognize  the  field  lying 
around  about  us  as  a  hopeful  subject  of  effort  and  having 
a  claim  upon  our  sympathy,  but  beyond  which  there  is 
nothing  for  us  as  a  Church  to  undertake.  Those  limits 
are  all  breaking  down.  The  conscience  of  Christians 
is  no  longer  satisfied  with  them.  *'A11  nations," — that 
phrase  which  rings  throughout  both  Testaments — is 
too  large  a  phrase  to  admit  of  any  such  racial  limitations 
or  prejudices.  *'Go  ye  into  all  the  world,  make  disciples 
of  all  nations,"  cannot  leave  out  either  Jew  or  Gentile 
or  white  or  black,  or  red  or  yellow.     It  takes  them  all 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  153 


in.  So  that  those  limitations  are  in  fact  breaking  down, 
and  we  no  longer,  openly  at  least,  confess  that  we  expect 
to  be  bound  by  them. 

There  is,  however,  another  kind  of  limitation  which 
men  have  held  practically,  even  if  not  very  many  of  them 
perhaps  would  be  willing  to  announce  it  theoretically, 
and  which  has  come  down  to  our  own  time  almost  or 
quite,  by  which  a  Christian  of  a  particular  Christian 
Church  might  seem  to  be  justified  in  saying  complacently 
that  he  believes  in  home  missions,  and  is  willing  to  give 
his  effort  towards  their  furtherance,  but  that  he  does 
not  believe  in  foreign  missions;  the  line  being  drawn 
at  that  botmdary,  wherever  it  be,  which  separates  the 
home  from  the  foreign.  But  there  again,  while  the  limita- 
tion is  one  that  has  counted  for  a  good  deal  in  the  past, 
it  is  rather  going  out  of  fashion.  Christians  who  really 
believe  in  missions  at  all,  are  finding  it  more  and  more 
difficult  to  discover  any  place  at  which  that  line  can  be 
drawn.  We  can  remember  almost,  some  of  us,  the  kind 
of  cheap  scorn  that  used  to  be  thrown  around  foreign 
mission  effort  so  short  a  time  ago  as  the  days  of  Sidney 
Smith,  of  Macaulay,  of  Dickens;  but  a  self-respecting 
and  intelligent  person  can  hardly  repeat  that  experiment 
now.  The  witnesses  are  coming  to  be  too  many,  such 
witnesses  as  the  honored  citizen  who  now  holds  the 
position  of  chief  magistrate  of  the  United  States.  I 
have  heard  him  in  private  conversation,  where  there  was 
no  public  impression  to  be  made,  speak  of  our  mission- 


154  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

aries  in  the  far  East  as  men  and  women  of  such  charac- 
tei  and  intelligence  and  power  of  influence  that  hardly 
anybody  else  in  that  part  of  the  world  was  to  be  com- 
pared with  them.  He  used  language  which,  in  a  secre- 
tary of  a  foreign  mission  board,  would  be  deemed  extrav- 
agant, in  setting  forth  his  high  esteem  for  those  soldiers 
of  the  Cross  who  had  devoted  themselves  to  foreign 
mission  effort.  I  say  a  man  is  a  back  number  in  these 
days,  who  presumes  to  limit  his  effort  or  his  sympathy 
within  some  boimdary  that  he  calls  home  missions, 
leaving  everything  else  out. 

So  that  that  limitation  has  broken  down,  and  we 
should  find  it  difficult  even  to  conceive  of  any  other 
that  should  embarass  us  in  the  acceptance  of  the  theme 
that  has  been  appointed  for  our  subject  of  thought  and 
prayer  this  evening,  and  that  is  the  world-wide  kingdom 
of  Jesus  Christ.  The  field  is  the  world,  and  the  whole 
of  it ;  and  the  purpose  of  a  Christian  Church,  that  which 
a  Christian  Church  is  for,  is  to  see  that  that  field  is  all 
worked,  and  that  the  whole  world  is  won  for  our  Lord 
and  Saviour,  Jesus  Christ.  So  much  for  the  answers  to 
those  questions. 

Then  there  comes  another  question  which  is  apt  to 
become  a  very  practical  one  in  the  internal  work  of  any 
particular  congregation;  and  that  is — admitting  that 
this  particular  congregation  as  a  whole,  shares  the  re- 
sponsibility of  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  for  winning 
the  whole  world  for  him; — ^how  far  do  the  individual 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  155 


members  of  that  Church  and  congregation  have  a  practical 
share  in  that  responsibiHty?  That  is  another  question. 
Admitting  that  this  Church,  now  rejoicing  in  the  com- 
pletion of  its  first  century,  is  bound  to  do  some  good 
part  toward  winning  that  final  victory  which  will  be 
won  when  the  whole  world  is  Christian,  how  far  does 
every  member  of  this  Church,  every  man,  and  every 
woman,  and  every  child,  have  some  personal  individual 
share  in  that  responsibility  of  the  Church  as  a  whole? 

In  speaking  of  winning  the  world  as  a  kingdom  for 
Christ,  one  finds  his  mind  turning  into  military  figures 
and  analogies.  You  think  of  the  world  as  an  army 
fighting  in  a  long  campaign.  Well,  you  know  there 
have  been  different  kinds  of  armies,  and  different  kinds  of 
fighting.  If  we  may  trust  the  records  of  the  past,  there 
was  a  time  when,  for  a  particularly  decisive  battle,  you 
would  be  quite  apt  to  see  one  or  two  or  three  or  four 
famous  champions  stride  out  into  the  space  between  the 
two  hosts  to  fight  one  against  the  other,  while  the  two 
hosts  sat  still  and  looked  on.  Those  of  you  who  can 
remember  your  Homer  will  recall  how,  before  the  Walls 
of  Troy,  Hector  and  Achilles  and  Agamemnon  and  Paris 
and  Diomed  and  the  rest  of  them,  half  a  dozen  of  them, 
would  come  out  between  the  two  hosts,  the  Greeks  and 
the  Trojans,  to  fight  their  various  single  combats,  while 
the  two  hosts  sat  as  spectators,  looking  on  to  see  which 
won.  Those  of  you  who  are  not  quite  so  fresh  in  your 
memories  of  Homer,  or  perhaps  have  never  read  him, 


156  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

will  at  least  remember  the  account  in  this  ancient  history 
how  once  the  armies  of  Israel  and  of  the  Philistines  were 
drawn  up  together;  and  the  champion  of  the  Philistines, 
that  gigantic  Goliath,  the  staff  of  whose  spear  was  a 
weaver's  beam,  went  striding  out  into  the  open  space 
between  the  two  armies  day  after  day,  tramping  up  and 
down,  and  shouting  his  defiance  to  the  armies  of  Israel, 
telling  them  to  choose  a  man  and  send  him  out  to  fight 
with  him.  "If  he  kill  me,  we  will  be  your  servants; 
and  if  I  kill  him,  you  shall  be  our  servants.  I  defy  the 
armies  of  Israel.  Choose  you  a  man  that  he  may  fight 
with  me."  And  when  at  last  young  David  accepted 
the  challenge,  and  walked  out  into  the  space,  then  Go- 
liath turned  at  him,  and  cursed  him  by  his  gods,  and 
told  him  that  he  would  give  his  flesh  to  be  the  food  of 
the  fowls  of  the  heaven  and  of  the  beasts  of  the  earth. 
And  David,  in  his  turn,  rather  more  modestly  but  after 
somewhat  the  same  manner,  made  his  reply.  It  is  the 
style  of  address  and  repartee  that  we  now  associate 
principally  with  the  champions  of  the  prize  ring;  but 
in  those  days  it  was  the  language  of  a  leader  of  a  great 
army,  the  understanding  being  that  if  it  was  to  be  a 
particularly  decisive  battle,  it  was  enough  that  this 
leader  and  another  leader  should  go  out  in  front  and 
stand  up  on  some  kind  of  an  elevated  platform  to  have 
the  spectators  see  which  of  them  should  win. 

That  kind  of  fighting  has  long  since  passed  out  of 
fashion,  as  regards  literal  armies  in  the  field.     But  I 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  157 


think  it  has  been  continued  sometimes,  or  resumed,  in 
our  ecclesiastical  warfare;  as  if  we  should  suppose  that, 
if  you  wanted  a  particularly  decisive  battle  against  the 
forces  of  evil,  you  must  get  some  great  champion  to 
accept  the  challenge  that  comes  from  the  Prince  of 
Darkness,  and  the  two  of  them  get  up  here  on  the  plat- 
form together,  and  the  officers  of  the  church  perhaps, 
as  a  sort  of  committee,  see  that  they  fight  according  to 
the  rules,  and  the  rest  of  us  sit  aroimd  as  spectators  and 
look  on  and  see  which  will  win.  There  have  been  times 
when  churches  settled  down  to  the  conclusion  that  that 
was  the  way  to  conduct  a  successful  revival  of  religion, 
the  way  to  make  a  great  advance  into  the  enemy's  cotmtry 
and  win  from  him  a  great  number  of  captives  and  make 
them  the  willing  servants  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ — 
this  single  combat  between  the  champion  of  salvation 
on  one  side  and  the  champion  of  perdition  on  the  other, 
with  the  rest  of  us  as  spectators. 

I  say,  that  style  of  fighting  has  long  since  gone  out  of 
fashion  as  regards  literal  armies.  The  leader  of  the 
army  is  no  longer  looked  upon  as  a  person  who  is  going 
to  do  most  of  the  fighting.  Sometimes  he  does  not  do 
any  of  it.  You  will  find  him  on  some  distant  height, 
from  which  he  can  overlook  the  whole  scene  of  the  opera- 
tions, and  send  out  his  orders  to  those  who  are  to  fight. 
The  fighting  is  too  much  for  one  man,  for  him  or  any 
other.  If  in  some  peculiarly  deadly  emergency  it  is 
necessary  that  he  should  take  the  lead  in  the  fighting, 


158  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

it  is  that  the  others  may  rush  on  with  him,  and  all  fight 
together.  The  fighting  is  the  work  of  all.  The  man  who 
can  most  successfully  get  the  largest  proportion  of  his 
troops  into  action;  the  man  like  Napoleon,  who  has  the 
gift  for  concentrating  the  largest  number,  and  massing 
them  at  the  precise  point  where  the  fight  is  going  to  take 
place,  is  the  man  who  is  going  to  win  in  real  warfare.  To 
every  man  his  work,  is  the  motto  for  a  successful  army. 

Well,  the  conscience  of  the  Christian  Church  is  waking 
up  to  the  fact  that  that  is  also  the  right  motto  for  a 
spiritual  army  if  it  wishes  to  be  successful;  "To  every 
man  his  work." 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Synod  of  New  York  a  year  ago,  it 
happened  that  the  Moderator  of  the  Synod,  one  of  the 
older  members  of  the  body — the  retiring  Moderator, 
who  would  naturally  have  preached  the  sermon  at  the 
opening  of  the  session — ^had  been  laid  aside  by  a  stroke 
of  paralysis,  and  could  not  be  there.  But  his  sermon 
had  already  been  committed  to  writing,  and  it  was 
read  to  us  by  another  member  of  the  body ;  and  that  was 
the  text  of  it — "To  every  man  his  work."  And  I  think 
you  can  imagine  the  pathos  of  it,  that  such  a  message 
should  come  from  such  a  man,  an  old  man,  for  whom 
the  shadows  were  lengthening,  for  whom  the  night  was 
drawing  near  when  no  man  can  work,  a  man  whose 
hand  was  palsied  that  he  could  not  lift  it  for  a  single 
stroke  of  labor,  and  yet  his  soul  was  so  thrilled  with  a 
sense  of  the  responsibility  resting  upon  the  Church  of 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  159 


Jesus  Christ  and  the  churches  of  that  Synod  that  his 
message  was  no  complacent  recollection  of  the  things 
that  had  been  done,  and  no  dreamy  reverie  about  the 
rest  that  remains  unto  the  people  of  God,  but  this  ring- 
ing challenge — To  every  man  his  work. 

Well,  I  really  think  that  is  the  answer  to  the  question, 
how  far  the  individual  membership  of  a  Church  must 
acknowledge  his  or  her  share  of  this  responsibility  of  the 
Church  for  getting  the  whole  world  won  as  the  kingdom 
of  Jesus  Christ. 

But  I  have  not  yet  discovered  the  Church  that  has 
been  able  to  return  that  answer.  If  the  text  read — ^To 
every  woman  her  work,  I  think  here  and  there  you  might 
find  a  Church  that  had  reached  the  ideal.  For  a  good 
while  past  many  of  our  Churches  and  of  our  denomina- 
tions, in  the  persons  of  their  women  members,  have  been 
organizing  their  operations  in  such  a  way  as  to  make  it 
evident  that  this  was  the  ideal,  and  in  such  a  way  as  to 
get  the  ideal  fairly  well  realized,  that  every  woman  in 
the  Church  should  have  a  place  of  work  assigned  her 
and  should  be  given  no  peace  until  she  had  filled  that 
place;  and  among  all  the  Churches  that  have  attained 
honorable  record  for  that  achievement,  I  personally 
know  of  none  that  could  out-rank  this  First  Church  of 
Germantown.  It  seems  to  me  that  you  have  been 
among  the  earliest  and  among  the  most  successful  in 
your  efforts  to  accomplish  the  ideal  of  universal 
Christian  service  for  the  women  of  your  membership. 


160  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

You  have  set  an  example  to  other  Churches.  There 
are  probably  more  of  them,  more  Churches  and  more 
ministers  than  you  know  about — I  can  speak  for  one — 
who  have  long  been  gaining  instruction  and  inspiration 
from  this  particular  Church  toward  the  accomplishment 
of  that  particular  end. 

But,  we  come  back  to  our  text;  and  it  does  not  say 
women,  it  says  men.  And  what  we  want  is  a  Church 
that  can  set  that  kind  of  example  as  regards  the  other 
half  of  the  membership.  If  it  is  right  and  true  for  the 
women,  why  should  it  not  be  right  and  true  for  the 
men?  Within  the  last  year  or  two,  during  the  hard 
times,  as  we  called  them,  in  many  of  our  larger  cities, 
I  suppose,  the  sight  has  been  seen  that  I  have  seen 
a  great  many  times  in  my  own — a  long  line  of  men 
waiting  with  a  certain  sort  of  patience  before  some 
door,  where  in  due  time  they  knew  they  would  be  sup- 
plied with  bread.  It  is  a  pitiable  sort  of  spectacle,  that 
long,  waiting  bread  line  of  idle  men.  If  they  are  idle 
because  they  cannot  find  any  work  to  do,  and  are  utterly 
unable  to  earn  the  bread,  every  such  idler  is  a  worthy 
subject  for  our  compassion.  But  I  call  you  to  witness, 
brethren,  that  some  of  us  looking  upon  that  spectacle 
have  been  apt  to  allow  ourselves  to  fall  into  a  mode  of 
indignation,  because,  as  we  confidently  believed,  a  good 
many  men  were  in  that  line  because  they  would  rather 
stand  in  that  Hne  all  day  long  until  the  bread  was  sup- 
plied them  by  somebody  else  than  do  an  honest  stroke 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  161 


of  work  to  earn  it  for  themselves.  And,  coming  home 
and  reporting  what  we  had  seen,  I  dare  say  we  have 
often  allowed  our  indignation  to  find  expression  in 
words.  I  should  like  to  know  how  long  the  bread  line 
is  in  some  of  our  churches,  of  men  who  are  content  to 
stand  all  day  waiting  before  the  door  for  somebody 
else  to  hand  out  to  them  a  portion  of  the  bread  of  life 
instead  of  doing  an  honest  stroke  of  work  to  earn  it  for 
themselves.  If  we  feel  justified  in  that  sort  of  indigna- 
tion against  any  of  the  poor  wretches  who,  out  of  their 
miserable  antecedents  have  been  betrayed  into  that 
kind  of  literal  idleness,  we  can  hardly  think  that  the 
Lord  Himself  looks  with  very  much  complacency  upon 
us  if  we  occupy  a  similar  position  as  regard  the  bread 
of  life  and  the  work  of  the  Christian  Church. 

I  think  it  will  not  be  beneath  the  dignity  of  this  oc- 
casion if  I  relate  a  dream — not  one  of  my  own,  but  one 
which  I  have  heard  described  as  coming  many  years  ago 
to  the  Pastor,  the  very  anxious  Pastor  of  a  Church.  It 
was  somewhere  up  in  New  England.  It  seems  this  man, 
being  in  such  a  mood  of  anxiety  concerning  his  Church, 
had  fallen  asleep,  and  in  the  visions  of  the  night  he 
dreamed  this  dream — ^that  his  Church  was  a  sort  of  a 
coach,  and  that  it  had  become  necessary  to  get  this 
coach  to  the  top  of  a  high  hill,  and  that  a  long  rope  was 
attached  to  the  pole,  and  the  Pastor  had  taken  his  place 
at  the  forward  end  of  the  rope,  and  behind  him  were 
ranged  the  officers  of  his  Church, — ^they  call  them  dea- 


162  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

cons  Up  there — and  the  officers  of  the  Sunday  School, 
and  the  officers  of  the  various  organizations  in  the  church, 
and  the  fathers  and  mothers,  and  the  little  children — 
men  and  women,  old  and  young,  all  of  them — and  they 
all  had  hold  of  the  rope,  each  one  pulling  according  to 
the  measure  of  his  strength;  and,  although  the  hill  was 
long  and  steep,  the  coach  was  making  very  good  progress 
towards  the  summit  of  it.  But,  as  it  seemed  to  this 
good  man  in  his  dream,  after  a  while  he  became  aware 
that  the  coach  was  going  slower  and  slower,  and  this 
was  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  he  himself  was  pulling  harder 
and  harder,  until  at  last,  in  the  midst  of  his  most  extreme 
effort  the  thing  altogether  stopped.  And  then  he  looked 
aroimd  to  see  what  was  the  matter ;  and  there,  between 
him  and  the  coach,  stretched  out  this  rope  empty;  and 
the  officers  of  the  Church,  and  the  officers  of  the  Stmday 
School,  and  the  fathers  and  mothers,  and  the  little  child- 
dren,  men  and  women,  old  and  young,  all  of  them  had 
climbed  into  the  coach,  and  were  stealing  a  ride.  Well, 
it  is  no  wonder  that  the  coach  stopped.  If  the  dream 
had  taken  a  little  different  character,  if  it  had  seemed 
to  him  that  only  the  men  were  stealing  a  ride,  and  that 
the  women  of  the  congregation  and  the  girls  still  had 
hold  of  the  rope  and  were  pulling  with  the  Pastor,  prob- 
ably the  coach,  after  a  fashion,  woiild  have  continued 
to  go  up  the  hill.  And  indeed  that  would  be  a  fairly 
accurate  representation  of  the  history  of  a  good  many 
of  our  so-called  successful  and  prosperous  Churches.    But 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  163 


just  suppose  the  beginning  of  his  dream  could  have  con- 
tinued. Suppose  you  could  find  a  Church  anywhere 
where  the  men — well,  let  me  put  it  in  this  way — where 
the  men  were  even  as  enthusiastic  and  imiversally  de- 
voted to  the  success  of  the  enterprise  as  the  women 
actually  are,  I  am  not  sure  but  byjthis  time  the  coach 
would  have  timibled  over  on  the  other  side  of  the  hill. 
You  could  not  stop  it.  It  would  have  such  a  rate  of 
ecclesiastical  progress  as  we  have  not  yet  adjusted  our 
thoughts  to. 

Among  one  of  the  most  interesting  movements  of  re- 
cent Christian  history  is  a  movement  which  gives  reason 
to  hope  that  this  incredible  thing  may  be  just  about 
happening;  and  that  is  what  is  called  the  Laymen's 
Missionary  Movement.  It  is  a  movement  of  men,  and 
it  is  a  movement  from  which  the  Parsons  are  excluded. 
It  is  the  laymen  of  the  church.  I  say  the  Parsons  are 
excluded.  I  was  invited  for  a  few  minutes  the  other 
day,  as  an  outside  counsellor,  together  with  two  or  three 
other  men  of  my  calling,  into  a  meeting  of  the  committee 
of  this  movement,  which  has  planned  for  a  great  cam- 
paign in  our  City  this  coming  Winter ;  but,  after  a  little 
I  saw  that  it  was  expected  that  we  should  go  out.  They 
had  gotten  the  opinion  they  wanted  from  us,  and  that 
was  all  we  were  wanted  for.  They  were  planning  this 
thing,  and  they  were  carrying  it  forward,  and  their  in- 
tention evidently  was  that  every  layman  in  the  churches 
should  come  to  feel  his  responsibility  in  doing  a  share. 


164  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

That  was  for  foreign  missions.  It  is  a  significant 
fact  that  those  men  whose  eyes  have  been  opened  to 
the  world-wide  sweep  of  this  Christian  enterprise  are  the 
quickest  to  recognize  the  necessity  of  getting  all  the  men 
of  the  Churches  enlisted  in  it.  But  if  their  eyes  can  be 
opened  to  a  still  larger  view  than  I  think  they  have  yet 
secured  of  the  significance  of  their  own  movement,  if 
they  can  be  made  to  understand  that  this  laymen's 
Christian  movement  is  not  merely  for  the  ends  of  the 
earth,  but  for  the  near  places  of  the  earth  too,  that  it 
ought  to  contemplate  the  successful  accomplishment  of 
the  whole  work  laid  on  the  Church,  near  and  far,  then  I 
think  we  should  be  pretty  near  the  dawn  of  the  mil- 
lennium itself. 

Friends,  for  a  himdred  years  past  your  neighboring 
Churches  have  been  looking  at  this  Church  as  they  are 
looking  toward  it  today,  because  of  the  splendid  ex- 
ample of  successful  service  you  have  already  rendered, 
and  particularly  in  the  way  you  have  succeeded  in  getting 
all  the  women  of  this  Church  at  work.  Why  may  we 
not  hope  that,  throughout  the  opening  years  of  this  new 
century  of  your  life,  the  Lord  may  teach  you  to  set  that 
other  kind  of  example,  for  there  are  a  great  many  who 
wotdd  be  willing  to  follow  it?  It  is  a  thing  to  which 
the  consciences  of  earnest  men  are  becoming  sensitive, 
to  which  the  consciences  of  the  pastors  of  our  churches 
are  becoming  sensitive — the  necessity  of  planning  the 
work  of  the  Church  somehow  so  that  all  the  members, 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  165 


and  especially  all  the  men,  shall  show  obedience  to 
the  ancient  command  that  every  man  must  have  his 
work.  If  only  we  could  learn  how  to  do  it!  If  only 
someone  could  show  us,  by  a  concrete  instance,  how  a 
Church  can  be  organized,  in  what  way  a  spirit  of  enthu- 
siasm can  be  brought  into  all  its  members,  so  that  that 
plan  can  be  brought  into  operation,  I  think  a  good  many 
of  us  would  fall  in  and  follow.  You  have  been  blessed 
by  the  Lord  in  being  able  to  set  an  example  of  the  one 
sort  through  a  hundred  years  that  are  passed;  our 
prayer  is,  and  our  confident  belief,  that  this  Church  is 
one  of  the  Churches  that  shall  be  setting  an  example  of 
the  other  sort  through  these  years  that  are  to  come. 


166  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

SERMON. 

By  Rev.  Charles  Wood,  D.D. 

It  is  with  deep  emotion,  friends,  that  I  stand  before 
you  to-night,  and  find  so  many  of  those  whom  I  knew  so 
well,  gathered  in  this  familiar  place,  so  beautified  during 
the  last  few  months.  It  has  a  familiar  sound  to  hear 
the  Pastor  of  this  Church  talk  about  raising  twenty 
thousand  dollars.  As  I  remember  it,  you  were  always 
just  about  to  raise  twenty  thousand  dollars,  or  had  just 
raised  twenty  thousand  dollars.  I  trust  that  next  Sun- 
day it  may  be  said  that  you  have  raised  one  more  of 
those  very  generous  gifts  that  came,  we  could  never  tell 
exactly  where  or  whence. 

I  am  to  speak  to  you  to-night  about  the  Church  and 
the  Community.  I  take  two  texts  from  the  Fifth  Chap- 
ter of  Matthew,  thirteenth  and  fourteenth  verses,  first 
clause:    "Ye  are  the  salt  of  the  earth;  ye  are  the 

LIGHT  OF  THE  WORLD." 

The  supreme  value  of  an  anniversary  like  this,  is  not 
in  the  delightful  sense  of  fellowship,  and  in  the  warmth 
of  mutual  congratulation  that  we  are  permitted  to  enjoy 
the  golden  harvest  whose  seeds  were  sown  by  other  hands 
a  century  ago.  The  permanent  worth  of  this  and  of  all 
similar  occasions,  is  fovind  rather  in  the  quickening  of 
the  consciousness  of  the  divine  life,  the  life  that  is 
throbbing  and  pulsating  here  in  this  Church  as  on  the 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  167 


day  when  this  Church  was  organized,  as  on  the  day  when 
the  ApostoHc  Church  began  its  campaign  of  conquest  and 
great  cities  like  Samaria  rejoiced  with  great  joy.  That 
divine  Hfe  is  manifested  in  every  divine  organization  in 
the  Church  and  in  the  home.  When  it  takes  possession 
of  an  organism,  that  organism  becomes  indifferent  to 
the  gnawing  teeth  of  time,  and  impervious  to  the  silent 
processes  of  decay,  before  which  mighty  structures  of 
stone  and  of  metal  have  fallen  to  the  earth.  The  home 
lives  because  God  is  in  the  home;  the  Church  lives  be- 
cause Christ  is  in  His  Church.  That  life  is  manifested 
also  in  the  clearer  conception  which  has  come  to  us, 
merely  because  we  stand  in  the  foremost  files  of  time,, 
of  Christ's  plan  and  purpose  in  the  institution  of  His 
Church.  That  plan  and  purpose  have  always  been  dis- 
cernible, by  those  who  have  studied  with  clear  eyes  the 
direction  that  has  been  given  through  the  nineteen 
centuries  by  Christ's  own  hand  to  the  course  of  His 
Church.  But  it  may  be  seen  even  if  our  eyes  are  some- 
what dulled,  as  we  look  across  the  passage  of  history; 
and  read  these  two  metaphors  which  fell  from  the  lips 
of  our  Master,  "Ye  are  the  salt  of  the  earth,  ye  are  the 
light  of  the  world";  My  Chiu-ch  is  to  be  in  the  world 
what  salt  is  in  the  corrupt  mass,  shooting  its  preserving, 
particles  to  the  very  heart  of  death,  what  light  is  as  it 
flings  out  its  javelins  into  the  darkness  of  the  world. 

"  My  Church  is  my  body,"  it  is  the  reincarnation  of  my 
life.     Some  one  has  said  that  every  true  Christian  is  an 


168  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

incarnation  brought  down  to  date.  "Henceforth  I  am 
no  longer  in  the  world,  but  ye  are  in  the  world.  The 
servant  is  not  greater  than  his  Lord.  I  came  not  to 
be  ministered  unto,  but  to  minister.  So  send  I  you  out 
into  this  great  world  to  be  ministering  messengers  to 
every  conmiunity  into  which  you  shall  find  entrance." 

We  find  nothing  to  condemn,  when  we  say  that  there 
are  certain  societies  in  the  world  that  are  self -centered. 
They  have  no  other  purpose  than  their  own  development, 
or  it  may  be  the  mere  gratification  of  their  members. 
There  are  artistic,  philosophic,  poetic,  athletic,  musical 
clubs  or  coteries,  whose  constitution  and  by-laws  state 
very  plainly  that  their  thoughts  are  turned  inward  upon 
themselves,  and  that  all  their  resources  are  to  be  expended 
for  their  own  benefit.  But  the  Church  of  Christ  is  a 
very  different  society;  and  when  the  artist,  or  the  poet, 
or  the  philosopher,  or  the  athlete — ^the  one-time  sybarite 
or  epicurean,  it  may  be — enters  the  Christian  Church,  he 
unites  volimtarily  with  an  organization  that,  like  its 
Master,  does  not  live  for  itself.  "Ye  are  the  salt  of  the 
earth,  ye  are  the  light  of  the  world." 

The  Church  has  in  the  past  recoiled  and  turned  in 
different  ways  from  her  Master's  voice.  Again  and  again 
she  has  refused  to  come  in  contact  with  the  world's 
corruption  and  the  world's  darkness.  She  has  shut  her- 
self away  in  caves  and  dens  of  the  earth,  within  secret 
walls  and  sacrosanct  enclosures,  across  which  no  woman's 
foot  might  dare  to  pass;    but  the  Church  that  imder- 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  169 


stands  what  her  Lord  meant  for  her,  the  Church  that 
accepts  His  purpose,  looks  out  with  new  eyes  upon  the 
world. 

Thomas  Arnold  said,  "The  great  and  noble  ideal  of 
the  Church  is  that  of  a  society  for  making  men  like 
Christ,  and  earth  like  heaven,  and  the  kingdoms  of  this 
world  the  kingdoms  of  our  God."  One  of  our  modem 
scientists,  looking  to  the  end  of  all  things  as  he  has  seen 
it,  speaks  of  a  society  of  human  souls  living  in  conformity 
to  a  moral  law,  as  the  object  or  aim  of  all  the  cosmic 
processes  through  all  the  ages;  but  that  society  of 
human  souls  has  been  largely  brought  into  existence  by 
this  society  we  call  the  Church,  whose  purpose  is  to  make 
men  like  Christ,  and  earth  like  heaven,  and  the  kingdoms 
of  this  world  the  kingdoms  of  our  God. 

Another  educator,  President  Wilson  of  Princeton  Uni- 
versity, has  said,  "To  my  thinking  the  Christian  Church 
is  the  center  not  only  of  philanthrophy,  but  of  education, 
it  is  the  center  of  philosophy,  it  is  the  center  of  politics; 
it  is  the  center  of  science;  in  short,  it  is  the  center  of  all 
sentient  and  thinking  life,  and  the  business  of  the 
Christian  Church  and  the  Christian  minister  is  to  show 
men's  relations  to  the  great  processes,  whether  spiritual 
or  physical;  their  duty  is  nothing  less  than  to  show  the 
whole  plan  of  life,  and  man's  relation  to  the  plan  of  life." 
Ye  are  the  salt  of  the  earth;  ye  are  the  light  of  the  world. 

When  the  Church  understands  that  this  is  its  mission, 
it  sees  at  once  that  its  duty  is  to  come  in  as  close  contact 


170  THE    FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

as  possible  with  the  very  world  from  which  it  once  turned 
away.  It  must  get  as  near  to  the  people  as  its  Master 
did,  when  He  stretched  out  His  hand  and  grasped  the 
hand  of  the  lame  man  and  lifted  him  up  and  stood  him 
on  his  feet,  or  when  He  reached  out  His  hand  and 
touched  the  eyes  of  the  blind  man  and  gave  him  vision. 

Such  a  Church  will  study  seriously,  systematically, 
scientifically,  not  only  the  theories  of  the  past,  but  the 
conditions  of  the  present,  not  only  theology  but  sociology. 
Such  a  Church  will  give  careful,  deliberate  and  persistent 
study  to  the  home,  and  to  the  change  of  environment  in 
which  the  members  even  of  our  so-called  Christian  homes 
find  themselves.  How  contrasted  is  the  home  of  to-day 
in  this  City,  with  the  home  of  a  hundred  years  ago  in  this 
same  City,  with  the  homes  of  the  New  England  Puritan 
and  of  the  Pennsylvania  Quaker!  Is  it  not  true  that 
everywhere  family  prayer  and  religious  instruction  are 
decreasing,  passing  away?  Are  not  the  ties  that  bind 
husband  and  wife,  the  heads  of  the  home,  being  loosened, 
as  shown  in  the  frightful  increase  of  divorce?  And  are 
not  the  ties  which  bind  together  the  parents  and  the 
children  attenuated,  when  the  obedience  that  is  demanded 
in  the  average  American  home  is  on  a  very  much  more 
modest  scale  than  that  which  was  enforced  a  hundred 
years  ago  ? 

Such  a  Church  will  be  eager  to  become  one  of  the  stu- 
dents in  the  public  or  the  private  schools,  or  in  the  col- 
leges, or  the  technical  schools,  or  the  universities.     It 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  171 


will  be  eager  to  know  what  the  young  are  studying,  and 
also  how  they  are  playing.  It  will  ask  about  their  sports, 
and  about  their  recreations,  and  their  amusements,  and 
it  will  try  to  add  its  salt  and  its  light. 

Such  a  Church  will  be  very  teachable,  ready  to  learn  of 
anyone  who  has  anything  to  teach.  Such  a  Church  will 
say  to  the  Salvation  Army,  What  can  you  tell  us  about 
reaching  our  brethren  in  the  slums?  And  such  a  Church 
will  say  to  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  What 
can  you  tell  us  about  reaching  the  business  and  profes- 
sional men  of  our  community  ?  And  such  a  Church  will 
say  to  the  Young  People's  Society  of  Christian  Endeavor, 
What  can  you  tell  us  about  reaching  the  boys  and  girls 
who  are  just  passing  up  out  of  boyhood  and  girlhood  into 
young  manhood  and  young  womanhood  ?  Such  a  Church 
will  be  anxious  to  hear  from  anybody  who  has  any- 
thing to  sa}^  about  reaching  the  alienated  classes  in  the 
commtmity,  or  even  individuals,  one  here  and  another 
there,  of  these  alienated  classes.  Are  the  laboring  men 
leaving  our  Churches?  Then,  if  the  labor  organizations 
can  tell  us  how  we  may  reach  the  laboring  man,  we  are 
ready  to  listen  to  what  they  say.  Such  a  Church  also 
will  be  ready  whenever  it  is  proven — "hold  fast  that 
which  is  good" — ^but  whenever  it  is  proven  that  any  of 
its  old-time  methods  are  obsolete,  to  relegate  them  to 
the  ecclesiastical  store-house. 

There  is  no  Church  on  earth  that  is  so  favorably  placed 
for  the  adaptation  of   itself   to  changed  conditions,  as 


172  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 


the  Presbyterian  Church.  Other  Churches  must  wait, 
if  they  want  a  new  plan  of  campaign,  if  they  want 
new  weapons  with  which  to  arm  their  soldiers,  until 
they  can  get  commands  from  some  distant  place.  On 
a  Trans-Siberian  train  last  winter,  passengers  felt  in 
their  air-coops  that  they  were  being  frozen  to  death, 
and  there  were  boilers  and  all  the  appurtenances  ready 
to  heat  them,  but  no  fires  in  any  of  the  furnaces. 
The  man  in  charge  of  the  train  said,  "Oh,  yes,  we 
could  light  a  fire;  we  could  make  you  very  comfort- 
able in  half  an  hour."  "Why,  don't  you  do  it?" 
"Well,  we  must  telegraph  first  to  St.  Petersburg  to  get 
our  authority  to  light  the  fire."  And  there  are  Churches 
that  must  telegraph  to  Rome  before  they  can  light  a  fire 
or  make  the  slightest  change  in  the  temperature  or  in 
their  attitude.  There  are  other  Churches  that  must  wait 
until  a  board  of  bishops  meets  and  confers  and  concurs 
and  decides.  And  there  are  other  Churches  that  must 
wait  for  an  ecclesiastical  council,  which  may  be  held  once 
in  three  years ;  but  a  true  Presbyterian  Church  is  a  com- 
plete entity.  It  may  change  its  entire  plan  of  campaign 
in  a  single  night.  It  may  refurnish  itself  with  new  weap- 
ons in  a  single  day.  We  ought  to  be  the  light  artillery  of 
the  sacramental  hosts  of  God.  Other  Churches  are  com- 
pelled by  circumstances  to  stand  and  wait  and  toil  on 
just  as  they  have  stood  and  waited  and  toiled  on  for 
years  and  decades  and  centuries  until  authority  is  given 
to  change ;  but  if  we  do  not  lay  down  our  bow  and  arrow 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  173 


when  we  have  found  that  they  are  not  reaching  the  mark, 
it  is  our  own  fault. 

In  one  of  the  counties  of  Maine,  it  is  said  that  for  six 
months  not  a  single  piano  had  been  sold,  and  the  piano 
dealers  in  Boston  and  Portland  said  in  despair,  "It  is 
utterly  useless  to  attempt  any  thing  with  those  Philis- 
tines; they  do  not  know  what  music  is."  But  a  young 
piano  dealer  in  a  small  town  thought  differently.  He 
hired  a  half  dozen  buggies,  and  had  them  reconstructed 
so  that  each  would  hold  an  upright  piano,  with  a  seat 
before  it  for  the  pianist.  He  got  six  intelligent  young 
men  from  our  colleges,  and  said  to  them,  "Now,  you 
drive,  each  of  you,  in  the  circuit  I  give  you;  drive  through 
the  farms  and  the  villages  during  the  day,  and  at  evening, 
when  you  have  marked  out  the  most  likely  looking 
houses,  come  back,  open  up  your  piano  and  begin  to  play, 
not  classical  music,  but  the  most  popular  airs  new  and 
old ;  and  when  there  gathers  around  you,  as  surely  there 
will  gather  around  you,  the  family  of  the  storekeeper  or 
the  farmer,  say  to  them,  'Here  is  a  piano  that  maybe  had 
almost  as  a  gift ;  if  you  have  any  potatoes,  if  you  have  any 
corn,  if  you  have  any  wheat,  if  you  have  any  colts  or 
cows,  we  will  take  them  in  exchange  for  this  piano;  let 
us  leave  it  with  you  for  a  week. '  "  And  then  the  orders 
were,  "Never  take  it  out  unless  compelled."  And  that 
young  man,  with  his  half  dozen  assistants,  sold  a  him- 
dred  pianos,  as  you  can  see  he  would,  in  the  very  first 
month. 


174  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 


There  are  whole  sections  of  all  our  cities,  there  are 
whole  segments  of  all  societies,  from  which  not  an  inquiry 
about  Christianity  has  come  in  many  a  long  weary  month ; 
and  the  old  methods  do  not  work.  They  do  not  care  about 
the  dignified  service  in  the  big  Church  on  the  corner  of 
the  distant  street  or  boulevard ;  neither  do  they  care  much 
for  the  service  in  the  dingy  little  chapel  on  the  street  next 
to  their  own.  What  do  they  care  for?  We  are  waiting 
until  some  intelligent  Presbyterian — why  not? — if  he  be 
some  other  type  of  Christian,  we  will  thank  God  for  him, 
but  we  hope  that  some  intelligent  Presbyterian  will  do 
for  the  Church  what  that  piano  dealer  did  with  his 
business,  and  show  us  how  hundreds  may  become  inter- 
ested where  there  had  been  stolidity  and  death. 

"New  occasions  teach  new  duties; 

Time  makes  ancient  good  uncouth; 
They  must  upward  still  and  forward. 
Who  would  keep  abreast  of  truth. 

"Tho'  our  camp-fires  gleam  before  us, 

We  ourselves  must  pilgrims  be; 
Launch  our  Mayflowers,  and  steer  boldly 

Through  the  deserted  wintry  sea; 
Nor  attempt  the  future's  portal 

With  the  past's  blood-rusted  key." 

All  obligations  in  this  world  are  reciprocal.  If  the 
Church  has  duties  to  the  community,  it  is  no  less  true 
that  the  commtmity  has  duties  to  the  Church.  For  ceti- 
ttuies  it  was  thought  that  the  only  duty  of  the  community 
to  the  Church  was  submission. 

"Their's  not  to  reason  why, 
Their's  but  to  do  and  die." 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  175 


Then  came  a  great  upheaval  in  the  religious  world  of 
Europe.  Men's  thoughts  began  to  expand.  That  one 
word  submission  was  no  longer  large  enough  to  hold  the 
full  measure  of  their  earnest  thinking.  The  world 
cracked,  opened  up,  and  there  were  two  Churches  then 
instead  of  one.  The  new  Church  no  longer  demanded,  as 
the  old  Roman  Catholic  Church  still  continues  to  demand, 
submission.  It  phrased  its  demands  differently.  It 
said,  ''Give  us  your  consideration;  look  up  into  the  face 
of  this  youngest  of  all  the  Churches  in  point  of  time,  and 
yet  most  apostolic  in  its  principles,  and  see  if  you  do  not 
behold  upon  that  face  the  light  that  never  was  on  sea  or 
land ;  listen  to  her  voice,  comprehend  her  great  ideal  and 
see  if  there  be  any  other  society  on  the  face  of  this  earth 
that  is  working  so  persistently  and  diligently  to  make 
men  like  Christ,  and  the  earth  like  heaven,  and  the  king- 
doms of  this  world  the  kingdoms  of  our  God.  Consider. 
Consider."  The  Reformed  Church  took  up  the  cry  of  the 
old  Prophet,  'Xome,  and  let  us  reason  together.  When 
you  have  considered,  we  have  confidence  that,  if  you  are 
logical,  you  will  go  one  step  further,  and  will  be  ready  to 
grant  our  next  and  greatest  need  of  all — co-operate." 
We  are  all  brothers.  Jesus  said,  ''The  kings  of  the 
Gentiles  exercise  lordship  over  them,  but  it  shall  not  be 
so  amongst  you."  Ye  are  all  kings  and  priests  unto  God, 
no  one  has  dominion  over  you;  no  one  commands  you. 
But  come,  come,  co-operate,  co-operate  with  your  Pastor, 
with  your  elders,  with  your  deacons,  with  your  trustees, 


176  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

with  your  Sunday-School  teachers.  It  is  the  great  word 
of  Protestantism  and  of  Presbyterianism.  It  condenses 
and  crystallizes  the  great  hopes  and  longings  of  our 
hearts — Co-operation.  And  when  there  shall  be  found 
in  any  one  Church,  as  there  has  been  found  in  this  Church, 
men  and  women  eager  to  keep  step  with  the  Leader,  the 
great  Master,  and  with  one  another,  when  there  shall  be 
found  in  any  one  Christian  denomination  a  thousand 
Churches  ready  to  co-operate  one  with  the  other,  then  the 
massive  bulwarks  of  fraud,  and  treachery,  and  injustice, 
and  inhumanity,  and  unrighteousness,  and  cruelty,  and 
corruption  shall  tremble  beneath  the  mighty  tread  of 
that  great  army  in  its  onward  movement.  As  individ- 
uals we  are  nothing  but  impotent:  individuals  joined 
together  by  a  common  purpose  and  longing  hope  become 
conductors  of  mighty  spiritual  and  resistless  currents. 

Looking  down  into  one  of  those  great  chasms  that  we 
cut  in  our  cities  on  which  to  lay  the  mighty  boulders  as 
the  foundation  from  which  tall  towers  are  to  spring 
towards  the  sky,  I  saw  a  horse  harnessed  to  a  cart,  and 
the  cart  was  heavily  laden,  and  yet  men  with  their  shovels 
were  piling  the  soil  upon  the  cart  until,  as  I  looked  up 
the  steep  incline  towards  the  street,  I  said,  *'  It  is  cruelty 
to  ask  any  horse  to  drag  that  load  up  that  hill;"  and  as  I 
looked  a  brawny  man  reached  down  his  hand,  as  I  sup- 
posed for  a  whip  to  beat  the  horse,  but  to  my  surprise  he 
fastened  a  chain  in  a  loop,  and  then  waved  his  hand 
toward  the  bank,  and  the  steam  engine  began  to  throb 


N    GERMANTOWN.  177 


and  thud,  and  in  a  moment  horse  and  cart  together  were 
swept  up  that  long  incline  to  the  street.  "Hitch  your 
wagon  to  a  star, ' '  says  our  American  philosopher.  Fasten 
all  your  carts,  and  all  your  vehicles,  and  your  very  lives 
to  those  inexhaustible  and  resistless  energies  of  which 
nature  is  full.  ''They  that  wait  upon  the  Lord  shall  re- 
new their  strength,"  says  the  Prophet.  They  link  their 
lives  to  the  supreme  energy  by  which  the  stars  are  swung 
in  their  courses.  "Without  Me,"  says  our  Master,  "ye 
can  do  nothing.  All  power  in  heaven  and  on  earth  is 
given  unto  Me.  Go  ye  therefore  out  into  the  world.  Ye 
are  the  salt  of  the  earth;  ye  are  the  light  of  the  world." 


178  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 


ADDRESS  TO  THE  SUNDAY-SCHOOLS. 

By  Rev.  George  B.  Stewart, 

President  of  Auburn  Theological  Seminary. 

I  count  myself  fortunate  in  having  the  most  attract- 
ive audience  of  this  Centennial  occasion,  for  I  am 
speaking  to  those  who  are  to  come,  not  to  those  who  are 
passing  away.  The  old  saying,  "Those  who  are  about  to 
die  salute  thee,"  will  have  to  be  changed  to-day,  for  me  at 
least,  to  "Those  who  are  about  to  live  salute  thee."  A 
hundred  years  is  a  long  while  to  live,  and  we  celebrate 
our  hundred  years  of  living  to-day.  One  thing  that  makes 
us  so  glad  is  that  those  who  have  lived  during  this  past 
hundred  years  in  connection  with  this  Church  have  lived 
so  well,  so  happily,  so  effectively.  We  rejoice  in  what 
they  have  done,  and  in  what  they  have  been.  To-day  we 
erect  a  monument,  so  to  speak,  to  their  praise,  to  cele- 
brate their  deeds,  their  faith,  their  hope,  their  love. 

When  we  think  of  the  past,  we  erect  monuments ;  but 
when  we  think  of  the  future,  we  rear  children.  And 
that  is  better;  and  so  I  may  hope  to-day  to  talk  about 
the  future.  When  Artemus  Ward  was  a  little  boy, 
trundling  his  cart  across  a  bridge  on  one  occasion,  a 
kindly  gentleman  put  his  hand  on  his  head  and  said, 
"My  lad,  your  future  is  before  you."  He  said,  "Up 
to  that  time,  I  had  thought  that  my  future  was  behind 
me."  And  I  can  say  to  this  audience.  Your  future  is 
before  you ;  and  the  question  arises.  What  are  3^ou  going 


IN    GERMAXTOWX.  179 


to  do  with  it?  How  are  you  going  to  look  at  it?  And 
I  have  one  message  that  I  want  to  give  you  this  morning 
with  reference  to  it.  I  want  you  to  think  of  yourselves 
as  messengers,  or  to  put  it  in  a  little  different  wa}^  as 
missionaries,  or  to  put  it  in  a  little  different  way  again,  as 
sent  ones.  Listen  to  the  words  of  Jesus,  "As  the  Father 
hath  sent  me  into  the  world,  so  send  I  you."  Just 
think  of  it,  that  we  are  sent  into  this  world,  just  as 
Jesus  was  sent  into  the  world.  Just  as  he  had  a  mission 
to  the  world,  so  have  we.  Just  as  He  came  forth  from 
God  to  ser\''e  the  men  and  women  that  He  lived  among 
and  those  that  were  to  come  after  Him,  so  you  and  I 
are  sent  here  to  be  of  sendee  to  those  that  are  about  us. 
Horace  Bushnell  preached  a  great  sermon,  which  the 
world  has  not  yet  forgotten,  and  which  men  still  love  to 
read,  although  it  was  preached  a  great  many  years  ago. 
"Every  man's  life  a  plan  of  God,"  was  the  thought  he 
had  in  that  sermon.  Your  life  and  mine  have  been 
planned  out  by  God,  our  Heavenly  Father.  There  is 
something  for  us  to  do  in  this  world,  and  He  sent  us  into 
the  world  to  do  it.  That  is  what  w^e  are  here  for.  Every 
boy,  every  girl,  every  man  and  every  woman  has  a  mis- 
sion to  carry  out  God's  plan.  God  had  thoughts  about 
you  and  me — is  not  that  wonderful,  that  God  should 
think  about  us  away  back  there,  long,  long  before  any  of 
us  were  thought  of  by  this  world;  long  before  the  world 
was  made,  when  the  stars  were  not  made,  God  thought 
about  us,  planned  for  us;  and  now  He  has  put  us  into 


180  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 


this  world  to  work  out  His  thoughts.  That  is  what  you 
are  doing,  I  hope.  You  have  something  to  do,  that  God 
wants  you  to  do.  Do  you  wonder,  then,  that  I  say  to 
you  that  the  most  important  thing  you  have  got  to 
do  in  this  world  is  to  live?  There  is  nothing  that  you 
do,  nothing  that  you  try  to  do,  more  important  than 
just  this  matter  of  living. 

Why,  you  have  got  to  keep  this  body  in  good  shape, 
in  good  form,  in  good  condition,  in  good  health.  For 
that  is  part  of  living.  Then  you  have  got  to  keep  your 
mind  in  good  condition,  too;  that  is  part  of  living.  And 
you  have  got  to  keep  your  heart  in  good  condition ;  that 
is  part  of  living.  And  you  have  got  to  keep  your  mind 
and  your  body  and  your  heart  in  such  good  condition 
each  with  the  other,  that  they  all  will  work  together, 
just  like  one  good  machine,  and  it  will  work  just  as  your 
clock  works,  harmoniously,  and  to  a  purpose,  so  that  all 
that  you  are  in  your  body,  all  that  you  are  in  your  mind, 
all  that  you  are  in  your  heart,  will  work  together  with 
each  other  for  the  purpose  of  helping  you  to  be  what  God 
meant  you  to  be,  and  to  do  what  God  meant  you  to  do. 

Now,  that  is  living.  The  chaplain  in  our  State  Prison 
at  Auburn — Auburn  is  famous  probably  for  three  things : 
it  was  the  home  of  the  great  Secretary  of  State  during 
the  time  of  the  Rebellion,  Mr.  Seward;  it  is  the  place  for 
a  great  prison,  the  Auburn  Prison,  and  it  is  the  place 
where  the  Auburn  Theological  Seminary  is,  so  that  we 
are  famous  for  three  things  at  Auburn — and  the  chaplain 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  181 


in  our  State  Prison  preached  a  short  while  ago,  so  he 
told  me,  on  Life,  and  he  gave  a  definition  of  life,  several 
definitions  of  life;  and  when  he  got  back  into  his  office, 
his  clerk,  who  is  a  prisoner  there  for  life,  said  to  him, 
''Chaplain,  there  is  one  definition  of  life  you  did  not 
give."  And  he  said,  ''What  was  that?"  "Why,"  he 
says,  "It  is  the  definition  of  life  that  you  hear  when  the 
judge  tells  you  to  stand  up  to  receive  the  sentence  of  the 
court,  and  he  says  that  you  are  sentenced  to  Auburn 
Prison  for  the  rest  of  your  natural  life.  It  is  the  defini- 
tion that  you  hear  when  the  turnkey  inserts  the  key  into 
the  gate  at  the  prison,  and  he  turns  in  the  lock  and  says, 
Life.  It  is  what  you  hear  when  the  door  shuts  upon  you 
for  the  last  time,  and  the  world  is  shut  out,  never  to  be 
seen  again;  and  the  hinges  as  they  creak  say,  Life.  It 
is  the  definition  that  you  hear  as  you  walk  down  these 
corridors,  the  walls  and  the  ceiling  echoing  back  your 
footsteps,  and  every  footstep  saying,  Life,  Life,  Life. 
Chaplain,  you  did  not  say  anything  about  that  this  morn- 
ing." "  No,"  he  says ;  "  no,  I  did  not  give  that  definition." 
It  is  a  pretty  serious  thing,  is  it  not?  And  I  submit  to 
you,  too,  a  very  serious  definition  of  life.  Life  is  trying 
to  be  what  God  meant  us  to  be,  and  trying  to  do  what 
God  meant  us  to  do.  That  is  living;  that  is  real  living. 
Now,  do  you  see  how  that  makes  us  just  like  so  many 
individuals  ?  I  am  not  here  to  be  like  you,  and  you  are 
not  here  to  be  like  me.  I  am  not  here  to  do  your  work; 
you  are  not  here  to    do  mine.     In  God's  great  field  of 


182  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 


labor,  all  work  is  not  the  same.  What  I  have  to  do  is 
my  work,  and  what  you  have  to  do  is  your  work.  What 
I  am  to  be  is  w^hat  God  meant  me  to  be,  not  what  he 
meant  you  to  be;  and  what  you  are  to  be  is  what  God 
meant  you  to  be,  not  what  he  means  me  to  be.  Some- 
times people  say  to  us,  What  would  Jesus  do?  Well,  I 
often  wish  I  could  answer  that  question,  but  I  cannot. 
And  then,  if  I  could,  I  am  not  sure  that  what  Jesus  did 
is  what  I  ought  to  do.  The  question  I  ought  to  ask  every 
day  is.  What  would  Jesus  have  me  to  do,,  not  w^hat  He 
would  do  if  He  were  here.  I  do  not  know  whether  he 
w^ould  be  president  of  a  theological  seminary.  I  very 
seriously  doubt  whether  he  would  be  president  of  a  theo- 
logical seminar}^  He  would  have  something  more  im- 
portant to  do  than  that.  But  I  think  he  wants  me  to  be 
president  of  a  theological  seminary  just  now;  and  that 
is  the  question  that  interests  me.  What  would  Jesus 
have  me  to  do?  What  would  Jesus  have  me  to  do? 
Would  it  not  be  a  foolish  thing  for  the  tree,  that  is  so 
stately  upon  the  hillside,  and  sheds  its  beautiful  shade 
over  so  large  a  portion  of  the  earth's  surface,  to  say,  "Oh, 
I  do  not  think  I  amount  to  much  in  this  world ;  I  wish  I 
could  just  be  that  sweet  and  lovely  vine,  so  full  of  beauti- 
ful flowers,  and  that  waves  its  censer  in  the  air  and  just 
distills  sweetness;  I  give  nothing  but  shadow,  while  the 
vine  gives  sweetness  and  fragrance,  and  I  am  going  to  be 
a  vine."  How  foolish  that  would  be  in  a  tree.  The  tree 
ought  to  be  the  best  sort  of  tree  it  can  be,  and  the  vine 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  183 


ought  to  be  the  best  sort  of  a  vine.  And  that  is  just 
what  you  ought  to  be ;  just  be  the  best  you  can ;  be  your 
own  best  self,  and  do  \^our  own  best  work. 

Do  you  know,  I  think  a  good  many  people  miss  it  in 
living,  because  they  try  to  be  like  somebody  else.  *'0h> 
if  I  could  only  be  just  like  that  saint;  I  know^  her;  how 
sweet  and  lovely  she  is ;  oh,  how  I  wish  I  could  be  as  good 
as  she ;  I  wish  I  could  have  just  the  same  kind  of  temper 
as  she  has,  and  take  her  view  of  life,  and  live  just  as  she 
lives."  But  do  you  know  perhaps  that  is  not  what  God 
wants  you  to  be;  God  wants  you  to  bear  some  burden, 
perhaps,  that  needs  strength  and  not  sweetness;  God 
wants  you  to  cast  some  grateful  shade  for  some  weary 
soul,  and  not  merely  give  forth  fragrance  into  life  and 
make  somebody  else  whose  happiness  is  great,  even 
greater.  You  have  got  your  own  work  to  do.  Now, 
find  it.  Let  me  tell  you  what  I  think  we  may  all  adopt 
as  a  very  good  motto :  Be  what  you  seem  to  be ;  seem  to 
be  what  you  are;  be  and  seem  to  be  what  you  ought  to 
be  and  seem  to  be. 

I  have  just  one  further  thought  to  add  to  this,  and 
that  is.  Be  yourself,  and  do  your  work.  Be  your  best 
self,  and  do  your  best  work  all  the  time.  There  is  the 
rub.  We  can  all  put  on  Sunday  clothes,  but  we  do  like 
to  take  them  off;  don't  we?  We  can  all  go  to  church, 
but  we  do  like  to  go  away  from  it.  We  can  all  have  a 
smile  sometime,  but  to  have  the  smile  that  won't  come 
off,  that  is  hard.     We  can  all  be  good  for  a  little  while, 


184  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

but  it  is  hard  to  be  good  all  the  time.  It  is  just  this 
everlastingly  keeping  at  it  that  is  such  hard  work,  it  is 
not,  in  being  good? 

Up  our  way  we  have  a  good  deal  of  snow,  and  it  lasts 
a  long  time;  and  the  story  is  told  of  a  little  boy  who 
was  out  one  morning  trying  to  make  a  path  with  a 
little  bit  of  a  coal  shovel,  and  somebody  said  to  him, 
''How  do  you  ever  expect  to  get  through  that  big 
snow  drift  with  that  little  shovel?"  "Why,"  he  said, 
"just  by  keeping  at  it."  That  is  the  way.  We  have 
got  to  keep  at  it,  you  and  I,  all  the  time. 

And  I  hope  you  will  not  get  discouraged.  Sometimes 
we  do;  but  try  not  to  get  discouraged  in  this  life.  It 
is  before  you,  and  what  a  wonderful  thing  life  is.  How 
I  would  like  to  talk  to  you  more  about  it.  But  I  want 
to  leave  with  you  as  the  last  word  those  beautiful  little 
words  of  Mrs.  Barbauld.  Wordsworth  said  of  her  and 
of  this  little  stanza  I  am  going  to  repeat  to  you,  that  no 
man  ever  went  down  to  immortality  with  a  smaller  book 
under  his  arm.  I  wish  that  we  could  learn  those  words 
and  have  them  written  upon  our  hearts,  so  that  we 
would  keep  them  before  us : 

Life,  we  have  been  long  together, 
Through  pleasant  and  through  cloudy  weather; 
'Tis  hard  to  part,  when  friends  are  dear, 
Perhaps  'twill  cost  a  sigh,  a  tear. 

Then  steal  away,  give  little  warning, 
Choose  thine  own  time; 
Say  not  Good-night, 

But  in  some  brighter  clime, 
Bid  me  Good-morning. 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  185 


And  if  we  remember  that  we  are  sent  once  into  the 
world,  that  we  came  to  work  out  God's  thought  in  deeds; 
that  we  are  here  to  be  what  God  means  us  to  be,  and 
to  do  what  God  means  us  to  do;  if  we  remember  every 
day  to  try  to  be  the  kind  of  boy  or  man  or  girl  or  woman 
that  God  wants  us  to  be,  and  to  do  the  work  that  He 
has  given  us  to  do,  then,  when  we  come  to  lay  down  life 
in  this  world,  it  will  be  to  find  a  brighter  life  and  a  better 
in  a  brighter  and  better  world. 


186  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

SERMON. 

By  Rev.  Henry  Van  Dyke,  D.D.,  LL.D. 

After  a  long  absence  from  my  own  country,  and  many 
*'home  thoughts  from  abroad,"  I  am  glad  to  come  back 
to  my  home  church  where  I  was  born  and  to  which  I 
owe  the  debt  of  a  son's  love  and  loyalty.  I  am  going  to 
speak  to  you  to-day  of  The  Church  of  To-day.  You  will 
find  the  text  in  the  sixteenth  chapter  of  the  Gospel 
according  to  St.  Matthew  and  in  the  third  chapter  of 
the  first  epistle  to  Timothy. 

And  Simon  Peter  answered  and  said,  Thou  art  the 
Christ,  the  Son  of  the  Living  God.  *  *  And  Jesus 
answered  and  said,  Thou  art  Peter,  and  upon  this  rock 
I  will  build  my  Church,  and  the  gates  of  Hades  shall 
not  prevail  against  it.  *  *  The  Church  of  the  Living 
God,  the  pillar  and  ground  of  the  truth. 

In  an  age  of  confusion  and  change,  when  forms  are 
dissolving  around  us  and  something  new  and  strange 
seems  to  impend  over  the  world,  it  is  good  to  hear  these 
clear  and  strong  words  of  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul,  and  be- 
tween them,  underneath  them  and  above  them,  this 
divinely  confident  assurance  of  our  Lord  Jesus,  linking 
the  words  of  His  two  disciples  together  in  an  indissol- 
uble bond  of  everlasting  stability. 

Peter  and  Paul  both  speak  of  the  living  God;  not 
the  imaginary  God  of  poetry,  unreal  and  evanescent; 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  187 


not  the  metaphysical  God  of  philosophy,  abstract  and 
remote;  but  the  God  who  lives,  thinks,  feels,  acts,  the 
source  and  sustainer  of  all  life:  therefore,  indefinable, 
since  life  itself  is  a  mystery  which  never  has  been 
defined:  therefore,  not  far  from  any  one  of  us,  since  in 
Him  we  live  and  move  and  have  otir  being. 

The  Church  of  this  living  God  exists  in  the  world,  St. 
Paul  assures  us,  as  the  pillar  and  stay  of  the  truth.  Not 
a  broken  pillar,  not  a  complete  pillar,  but  a  pillar  which 
is  building  out  of  living  stones.  Where,  and  how?  By 
what  marks  shall  we  know  it?  On  what  foundation  does 
it  stand?     How  shall  we  be  built  into  it? 

Jesus  Himself  answers  these  questions  in  His  great 
word  spoken  to  His  apostle  Peter,  a  word  uttered,  as  I 
love  to  remember,  in  one  of  the  most  beautiful  places 
of  the  world,  during  those  brief  hours  when  Jesus  trod 
on  Gentile  soil  and  claimed  a  mission  as  wide  as  the 
earth.  Think  of  that  scene  for  a  moment.  There  were 
the  groves  and  foimtains  of  Banias  at  the  source  of  the 
Jordan  with  their  altars  of  licentious  nature  worship; 
and  there  was  the  city  of  Caesarea  Philippi  with  the 
marble  temple  which  Herod  btiilt  to  Augustus,  the 
shrine  of  a  proud  man  worship.  And,  as  they  looked 
down  upon  those  things,  a  little  group  of  way-worn, 
dusty  foot-travellers,  Jesus  turned  to  His  poor  followers 
and  asked,  *'  Whom  do  men  say  that  I,  the  Son  of 
Man,  am  ?"  They  answered  in  a  confusion  that  seems 
almost  modem.     "Some  say  one  thing,  and  some  say 


188  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

another  thing."  The  Master  pressed  His  question, 
"But  whom  say  ye  that  I  am?"  Then  it  was  that  the 
life  of  the  spirit  in  Peter  leaped  to  his  lips,  and  he  said, 
"Thou  art  the  Christ,  the  Son  of  the  living  God." 

A  short  answer,  a  sufficient  answer,  a  vital  answer. 
It  was  not  an  explanation.  It  was  not  a  definition.  It 
was  not  a  creed  or  common  confession  of  faith.  It 
was  something  more  direct.  It  was  something  more 
simple.  It  was  an  act  of  the  will  to  believe.  It  was  the 
response  of  Peter's  life  to  the  touch  of  Jesus'  life.  It 
was  the  flashing  of  the  flame  in  answer  to  the  kindling 
spark.  Thou  art — not,  I  say,  or  we  believe,  or  I  think, — 
but  Thou  art  the  Christ,  the  Son  of  the  living  God.  Then 
Jesus  answered,  *'  Blessed  art  thou,  O  Simon,  son  of 
Jona,  for  flesh  and  blood  hath  not  revealed  it  unto  thee, 
but  my  Father  which  is  in  heaven;  and  I  also  say  unto 
thee  that  thou  art  Peter — Petros — and  upon  this  rock — 
Petra — I  will  build  my  Church,  and  the  gates  of  Hades 
shall  not  prevail  against  it." 

What  rock.?  Not  the  man  Peter,  for  that  which  has 
not  been  revealed  by  flesh  and  blood  cannot  thenceforth 
rest  upon  flesh  and  blood  for  its  continuance  and  author- 
ity. What  rock?  Not  the  apostle  Peter,  as  head  of  a 
college  of  ecclesiastics,  for  Jesus  did  not  use  Peter's 
name  when  He  spoke  of  the  rock,  but  purposely  changed 
the  word.  He  never  gave  Peter  any  power  or  authority 
which  was  not  possessed  by  his  fellow  apostles.  What 
rock?     The  rock  of  the  Christian  religion,  which  is  the 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  189 


life  of  the  human  soul  finding  the  living  God  in  Jesus 
Christ,  His  Son.  That  is  the  rock.  That  is  the  founda- 
tion of  the  true  Church ;  that  is  the  mark  by  which  we 
recognize  it  in  all  ages  and  in  all  lands.  It  is  built  upon 
the  giving  of  the  life  of  man  to  God  and  the  giving  of  the 
life  of  God  to  man  in  Jesus,  the  Lord  and  Saviour  of  the 
world. 

Now,  it  is  of  that  Church  that  I  wish  to  speak  to  you 
to-day,  for  it  is  the  only  true  Church  of  to-day  as  it  was  the 
only  true  Church  of  yesterday,  and  as  I  believe  it  will  be 
the  only  true  Church  of  to-morrow.  A  thousand  ques- 
tions, a  thousand  points  of  interest  in  regard  to  it  in- 
stantly arise  in  our  minds,  and  of  these  I  can  only  touch 
on  three:  the  unity  of  the  Church,  the  mission  of  the 
Church,  and  the  permanence  of  the  Church's  relation  to 
Jesus  Christ. 

I.  The  unity  of  the  Church  is  a  question  that  is  earn- 
estly considered  and  warmly  discussed  at  the  present 
time.  And  it  is  a  good  sign,  and  a  hopeful  omen.  But 
what  we  need  most  to  understand  just  now,  my  breth- 
ren, is  that  the  unity  of  the  Church  already  exists.  It 
is  not  something  to  be  created;  it  is  something  which 
has  already  come  into  being  and  which  needs  to  be 
brought  out  and  manifested  more  clearly  to  the  world. 

"The  Church's  one  foundation 
Is  Jesus  Christ  the  Lord." 

All  true  Christians  have  a  common  source  of  life  in  the 
living  God  revealed  to  them  through  His  Son.     All  true 


190  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

Christians,  in  all  communities,  under  all  creeds  and  all 
forms  of  government,  with  all  methods  of  worship — all 
true  Christians  have  a  common  ground  of  experience  of 
faith  and  love  and  hope  which  centres  in  Jesus,  their  Mas- 
ter and  Redeemer.  All  true  Christians  have  a  common 
mission  of  activity  in  the  doing  of  the  work  of  Christ  in 
the  world.  This  is  their  religion,  and  it  is  really  the 
same  for  all  of  them.  The  vital  part  of  it,  the  essential 
part  from  which  they  derive  comfort,  and  peace,  and  joy, 
and  power  of  spiritual  life  does  not  lie  in  the  forms 
wherein  they  differ.  It  lies  in  the  present  and  eternal 
life  which  they  reach  through  and  beyond  them. 

Many  true  Christian  men  and  women  I  know  in  all  the 
churches,  and  some  who  are  not  bound  to  any  of  the 
churches ;  and  the  thing  that  impresses  me  most  is  not  the 
outward  difference  but  the  inward  unity  of  their  real  re- 
ligion ;  and  in  the  storm  and  stress  of  life  that  unity  comes 
out.  Confronted  with  danger  and  death,  with  the  great 
joys  that  illumine,  or  with  the  great  sorrows  that  ennoble 
our  mortal  existence,  all  who  have  known  God  in  Christ 
flee  to  the  same  eternal  refuge,  and  call  in  gratitude  or  in 
grief  upon  the  same  sweet  and  almighty  Name.  Are 
they  not  all  building  on  the  same  rock;  are  they  not  all 
in  the  same  Church  of  the  living  God?  Yet  they  do  not 
all  know  it,  and  they  will  not  all  admit  it.  There  is  the 
pity  of  it,  and  there  is  the  first  thing  that  needs  to  be 
changed,  not  only  for  the  sake  of  the  Church,  but  also 
for  the  sake  of  the  world.     Christ  said,  *'  If  Satan  be 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  191 


divided  against  himself,  how  shall  his  kingdom  stand  ?'' 
And  the  world  to-day  says,  "  The  Church  of  Christ  is  di- 
vided against  itself,  and  how  shall  it  stand  ?"  The 
Church  of  to-day  must  find  a  way  to  answer  this  re- 
proach and  to  remove  it.  The  forces  of  evil  are  coop- 
erant  in  appearance ;  the  forces  of  good  must  be  cooperant 
in  reality. 

The  churches  exist  within  the  Church.  If  the  churches 
represent  divisions,  they  hinder  the  work  and  the  tri- 
umph of  Christ.  If  the  churches  represent  simply  natural 
methods  of  distribution,  they  may  meet  a  real  need  and 
do  a  real  good.  But  in  order  to  accomplish  this,  they 
must  recognize  each  other  in  the  world  and  work  to- 
gether in  service. 

Men  talk  about  orthodoxy,  heresy,  and  schism.  There 
is  only  one  kind  of  schism,  that  by  which  a  man  cuts  his 
own  soul  or  his  neighbor's  soul  off  from  Christ.  There 
is  only  one  kind  of  heresy,  that  which  denies  the  mission 
of  Christ  to  seek  and  to  save  the  lost.  And  there  is  only 
one  kind  of  orthodoxy,  that  in  which  Christ  leads  man 
into  fellowship  with  the  living  God.  How  sadly  this 
has  been  forgotten  in  the  past  we  all  know.  How  much 
it  is  obscured  in  the  present  we  all  know.  But  I  believe 
that  a  better  time  is  coming  already,  and  I  believe  that  a 
still  brighter  day  is  near  at  hand.  It  is  not  to  be  hoped, 
perhaps  not  even  to  be  desired,  that  all  the  great  differ- 
ences of  organization,  doctrine  and  worship  which  mark 
the  historical  distribution  of  the  different  churches,  can 


192  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 


presently  be  reconciled  and  disappear ;  but  it  is  our  hope 
that  a  rising  tide  of  faith  and  love  will  lift  us  to  a  height 
where  we  can  all  see  over  all  the  boundaries.  And  it 
is  our  hope  that  some  of  the  thin  and  flimsy  walls  of 
philosophical  lathing  and  ecclesiastical  plaster  which 
have  separated  Christians  on  a  definition  of  predestina- 
tion, or  on  a  question  of  church- worship,  or  on  a  method 
of  ordination,  will  be  found  unable  to  stand  the  general 
tremor  of  the  world  to-day  under  the  pressure  of  new  and 
powerful  forces,  and  impossible  to  repair,  so  that  they 
will  fall  down  by  the  force  of  gravity.  And  no  one  will 
mourn  for  them. 

It  is  our  hope  that  the  churches  which  really  belong 
together  will  really  come  together,  and  that  from  them 
all,  as  from  the  many  encampments  of  one  army,  new 
forces  will  go  forth,  not  to  quarrel  with  each  other,  but 
to  work  together  against  the  evil  and  for  the  good,  in 
the  name  and  in  the  strength  of  the  same  Son  of  the 
living  God. 

II.  The  true  mission  of  the  Church  to-day  is  another 
subject  about  which  men  are  thinking  and  talking.  Some 
say  that  her  mission  is  to  bear  witness  to  the  truth; 
others  that  it  is  to  maintain  the  rites  of  worship  and  the 
ordinances  of  religion ;  others  that  it  is  to  help  the  poor 
and  needy  and  to  practice  the  works  of  righteousness 
and  mercy.  And  it  is  just  because  men  have  insisted 
exclusively  on  one  or  other  of  these  points  that  the 
Church  has  not  fully|  realized    her  great    catholic  mis- 


N    GERMANTOWN.  193 


sion,  which  is  to  express  and  minister  to  the  whole  life  of 
man  in  Jesus  Christ. 

Ah,  but  you  say,  if  one  Church  does  one  thing  and 
another  Church  does  the  second  thing,  and  another 
Church  does  the  third  thing,  is  not  the  whole  task 
accomplished  in  that  mystical  unity  of  the  Church  of 
which  you  have  been  speaking?  Yes,  perhaps  so — 
mystically;  but  not  for  actual  men  like  you  and  me, 
for  the  peculiarity  of  the  actual  man  is  that  he  does 
not  attend  the  Church;  he  attends  a  church.  It  is  there 
that  his  whole  life  as  a  child  of  the  living  God  must 
receive  recognition  and  nurture  and  employment;  and, 
therefore,  he  needs  to  find  there  instruction  in  truth, 
and  joy  in  worship,  and  guidance  and  fellowship  in 
practical  service.  The  failure  to  give  any  one  of  these 
elements  cannot  possibly  be  a  merit  in  a  church;  it  is 
a  fault  ;  it  is  a  defect,  and  it  leads  to  a  misunderstand- 
ing of  the  Church,  and  a  weakening  of  her  influence. 
Carried  to  the  last  extreme,  it  brings  a  church  where 
the  sermon  is  everything,  into  intellectual  dryness ;  and 
a  church  where  the  ritual  is  everything,  into  aesthetic 
softness;  and  a  church  where  practical  attention  to  a 
common  humanity  is  everything,  into  a  restless,  noisy, 
shallow  busy-ness. 

The  truth  is  that  Christian  thought,  Christian  worship 
and  Christian  work  must  go  together,  if  any  one  of  them 
is  to  reach  its  highest  development.  "Why  is  it,"  said 
Phillips  Brooks,  "that  the  Church  has  magnified  doc- 


194  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

trine  over-much,  and  throned  it  where  it  does  not  be- 
long? It  is  because  the  Church  has  not  cared  enough 
for  Hfe.  She  has  not  over- valued  doctrine,  she  has 
under- valued  life.  When  the  Church  learns  that  she 
is  in  her  idea  simply  identical  with  all  noble  activity, 
when  she  thinks  of  herself  as  the  inspirer  and  purifier  of 
the  whole  life  of  man,  then  she  will — what?  Not  cast  her 
doctrines  away,  as  many  of  her  impetuous  admirers  bid 
her  do.  She  will  see  their  precious  value  as  she  has 
never  seen  it  yet;  but  she  will  hold  them  always  as 
the  means  of  life,  and  she  will  insist  that  out  of  their 
depths  they  shall  send  forth  manifest  strength  for  life 
which  shall  justify  her  holding  them." 

The  same  thing  is  true  of  worship.  Is  there  any  rea- 
son in  the  world  why  a  good  sermon  should  be  coupled 
with  a  cold  and  barren  service,  or  with  what  the  West- 
minster Divines  called  mean,  irregular  and  extravagant 
effusions  in  prayer?  No;  on  the  contrary,  the  force  of 
teaching  is  enhanced  by  the  beauty  of  worship,  and  the 
teaching  power  of  devout  and  lovely  praise  and  prayer 
is  inestimable. 

Shall  we  not  make  the  same  claim  for  the  activities 
of  a  Christian  life?  Has  not  Christ  Himself  said,  If  any 
man  will  do  God's  will,  he  shall  know  of  the  doctrine  ? 

Honest  toil  is  lowly  service; 
Faithful  work  is  praise  and  prayer. 

The  Church  of  to-day,  if  she  is  to  be  really  the  Church 
of  the  living  God,  must  have  this  fullness  of  the  three- 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  195 


fold  life  as  it  is  revealed  in  Christ.  The  words  that  He 
spoke  to  His  disciples  were  spirit  and  life.  The  bread 
that  He  brake  to  them,  the  cup  of  water  that  He  gave 
to  them,  were  the  bread  of  life,  the  water  of  life.  The 
work  to  which  He  led  them  and  sent  them  forth  was  the 
work  of  life.  He  said,  "I  am  come  that  ye  might  have 
life,  and  that  ye  might  have  it  more  abundantly."  Ah, 
my  brethren,  think  what  it  will  mean  when  the  Church 
really  believes  that  she  must  be  living  in  the  living  world, 
even  as  her  living  Lord.  Her  sermons  translated  out  of 
a  theological  dialect  into  a  living  tongue  that  comes 
home  to  the  business  and  bosoms  of  men!  Her  sacra- 
ment of  baptism  welcoming  every  child  that  comes  into 
the  world,  even  as  Jesus  took  the  little  ones  into  His 
arms,  and  put  His  hand  upon  them  and  blessed  them, 
saying.  Of  such  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven!  Her  com- 
munion an  open  table,  spread  with  the  bounty  of  Christ, 
to  feed  the  need  of  every  guest,  to  comfort  and  restore 
the  penitent  sinner,  to  console  the  lonely  and  the  suffer- 
ing, to  refresh  the  weary  and  the  disheartened,  to  con- 
secrate every  brave  and  earnest  soul  for  the  day's  work, 
whatever  it  may  be! 

Think  of  the  sweetness  and  light,  the  power  and  joy 
that  must  flow  from  such  a  Church.  Think  how  men 
must  love  her  and  God  must  bless  her.  She  will  not  fear 
the  changes  and  the  conflicts  of  to-day.  The  world  needs 
her  still,  for  the  world  needs  life. 

'Tis  life,  not  death,  for  which  we  pant; 
'Tis  life  whereof  our  nerves  are  scant, 
More  life,  and  fuller,  that  we  want. 


196  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

And  in  the  true  Church,  the  Christ,  the  Son  of  the  living 
God,  ministers  to  the  life  of  men  and  women. 

III.  So  then  we  come  to  the  last  question  which  men  are 
asking  in  regard  to  the  Church  of  to-day.  Is  her  relation 
to  Jesus,  the  Christ,  permanent  and  vital,  or  is  it  transi- 
tory? Does  she  need  Him  now  and  always,  or  can  she 
do  without  Him?  The  newspapers  tell  us  that  a  distin- 
guished and  justly  honored  man  in  America,  who  has 
lately  retired  from  the  headship  of  our  oldest  imiversity, 
has  been  talking  of  a  new  religion,  in  which  Christ, 
as  the  Church  has  known  Him,  the  Revealer  of  the  Father, 
the  Divine  Mediator,  the  Son  of  the  Living  God,  seems  to 
be  unnecessary.  Men  are  to  find  peace  and  safety,  and 
hope  and  strength,  in  their  own  thoughts  of  the  purity, 
justice,  goodness  and  love  of  the  unseen  Father.  Christ 
may  be  left  out. 

There  is  much  that  is  fine  and  beautiful  in  the  words 
of  this  teacher  of  a  new  religion ;  but  where  does  their 
moral  attraction  come  from?  It  is  the  after-glow  of 
the  old  religion,  the  Christian  religion,  which  led  his  fore- 
fathers. For  him,  in  the  security  of  his  virtuous  her- 
itage, an  after-glow  may  suffice;  but  not  for  the  sin- 
ful, struggling,  doubtful,  suffering  world.  It  wants 
more  than  an  after-glow.  It  wants  the  sim-rise  of  the 
living  God  in  the  face  of  Jesus  Christ.  Where  can  we 
find — I  ask  you,  my  brethren,  to  put  it  to  yourselves, 
earnestly  and  reasonably — ^where  can  we  find  the  cer- 
tainty that  God  is  pure,  and  just,  and  good,  and  for- 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  197 


giving,  save  in  Jesus  Christ?  Where  is  the  life  that  we 
instinctively  recognize  as  Divine  perfectly  embodied,  save 
in  Jesus  Christ?  Where  is  the  assurance  that  God  loves 
us,  even  when  we  sin,  and  most  of  all  when  we  are  in 
sorrow?  Where  is  the  assurance  that  God  loves  us  and 
has  a  gift  of  immortality  for  us,  save  in  Him  who  was 
crucified  for  our  sins,  and  rose  again  that  we  may  live 
with  Him  forever? 

But  men  say — my  friends  say  to  me  often — ^it  is  un- 
reasonable to  believe  that  the  Church  of  to-day  must 
always  be  bound  to  a  Lord  of  yesterday,  to  a  Master  who 
is  dead  and  gone.  Is  He  then  dead  and  gone?  Ask  the 
man,  broken  and  beaten  down  by  sin,  who  kneels  at  His 
altar,  crying,  "Lord  Jesus,  have  mercy  upon  me,"  and 
feels  the  dew  of  a  divine  forgiveness  fall  upon  his  heart. 
Ask  the  missionary  who  faces  danger  and  death,  saying, 
"For  Christ's  sake  I  can  endure  it,"  and  feels  a  heavenly 
patience  and  courage  filling  his  heart.  Ask  the  mother 
who  hides  her  face  upon  the  death-bed  of  her  little  child, 
crying,  "Saviour,  pity  me,"  and  rises  to  meet  her  daily 
duty  with  the  peace  of  heaven  shining  in  her  eyes. 
Dead  and  gone  ?  No,  my  brethren ;  He  is  living,  and  He 
is  here,  and  the  Church  of  to-day  its  builu  pon  the 
assurance  that  He  is  the  Christ,  the  Son  of  the  living 
God. 

That  is  the  message  that  I  have  come  to-day  to  bring 
to  you  in  this  city  of  my  birth  and  this  church  of  my 
baptism;  and,  bringing  it,  I  would  bow  the  knees  of  my 


198  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

heart  in  love  and  reverence  to  the  memory  of  my  dear 
and  honored  father,  who  was  the  Pastor  of  this  church, 
and  who  led  my  soul  to  the  living  Christ.  He'^it  was  who 
showed  me  in  his  life  the  meaning  of  manhood  and  the 
meaning  of  religion.  He  it  was  who  gave  me,  at  the  end 
of  our  happy  comradeship,  this  message : — *'  Personal 
loyalty  to  Je^us  Christ  is  the  root  and  mainstay  and 
heart  of  Christianity." 
May  God  bless  His  word. 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  199 


THE   WIDENING  FIELD  OF  THE  SUNDAY  SCHOOL 
By  Rev.  Dr.  Alexander  Henry. 

The  most  serious  problem  confronting  us  as  a  nation 
to-day,  is  the  Christian  education  of  our  people. 

We  hear  more  of  other  problems,  such  as  the  liquor 
problem,  the  negro  problem,  the  labor  problem,  but 
none  of  them  is  so  vitally  important  as  the  problem  of 
Christian  education. 

If  we  can  be  assured  of  the  Christian  education  of  our 
people,  we  need  not  fear  the  ultimate  solution  of  the 
other  problems.     If  we  fail  in  this,  we  fail  in  all. 

Of  late  years,  this  religious  problem  has  seemed  to 
grow  more  serious  and  difficult.  On  every  hand  we  hear 
sad  references  to  our  failure  in  this  respect.  As  an  illus- 
tration of  this,  we  may  refer  to  what  Dr.  Butler  says  in 
his  work,  ''The  Meaning  of  Education."  He  calls  at- 
tention to  the  separation  of  Church  and  State  in  our 
country,  and  the  drift  toward  secularity  in  the  education 
given  by  the  State;  and  then  he  goes  on  to  say:  "The 
result  of  this  condition  of  affairs  is  that  religious  educa- 
tion is  rapidly  passing  out  of  public  education  entirely; 
and  familiarity  with  the  Bible  is  becoming  a  thing  of 
the  past. " 

This  is  only  one  of  very  many  similar  testimonies  upon 
this  subject;  and  it  is  evidently  necessary  that  we  must 
seriously  face  the  possibility  of  the  arrival  of  the  time 
when  a  large  number  of  the  citizens  of  this  Christian 


200  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

nation  shall  be  as  ignorant  of  the  historical  facts  of  the 
Bible  as  the  heathen  themselves. 

It  is  evident  that  if  our  citizens  are  to  receive  an  ade- 
quate religious  education,  it  must  be  given  to  them,  for 
the  most  part,  while  they  are  yet  boys  and  girls. 

Former  generations  depended  largely  upon  the  home, 
the  school,  and  the  preaching  services  of  the  Church,  for 
the  Christian  education  and  training  of  the  youth.  We 
are  finding  that  less  and  less  dependance  can  be  placed 
upon  these  agencies.  The  reasons  are  so  obvious  that 
we  need  not  dwell  upon  them. 

Consequently,  in  recent  years,  men's  thoughts  have 
been  turned  more  and  more  to  the  Sunday  School  as  the 
most  helpful  agency  for  imparting  a  Christian  education 
to  our  people. 

This  is  not  the  view  of  Sunday-School  enthusiasts  alone, 
nor  even  of  ministers  and  religious  instructors.  It  is 
the  serious  conclusion  of  a  large  number  of  intelligent 
laymen,  public  educators,  and  those  who  are  interested 
in  the  moral  and  religious  welfare  of  our  country. 

For  example,  Henry  Frederick  Cope,  Secretary  of  the 
Religious  Educational  Association,  in  his  book  entitled 
"The  Modern  Sunday  School  in  Principle  and  Practice," 
declares  that  "we  must  look  to  the  Sunday  School,  at 
least  in  large  measure,  for  the  solution  of  our  great  prob- 
lem of  religious  education. " 

It  is  generally  admitted,  however,  that  while  the  Sun- 
day School  is  the  most  hopeful  agency  to  which  we  may 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  201 


look  for  the  Christian  education  of  our  people,  it  is  rather 
the  Sunday  School  of  the  future,  the  Sunday  School  de- 
veloped  into  the  organization  which  it  can  be  and  should 
be,  than  the  Sunday  School  of  to-day,  conducted  as  it  is 
at  the  present  time. 

The  Sunday  School  is  capable  of  great  improvement 
and  development.  Results  that  have  been  obtained  in 
local  schools  here  and  there,  under  favorable  conditions, 
give  us  an  idea  of  the  possibilities  of  the  Sunday  School, 
and  lead  us  to  hope  that  it  will  be  found  to  be  the  agency 
through  whose  instrumentality  it  will  be  possible  to  pro- 
vide a  Christian  education  for  the  citizens  of  our  land. 

That  this  may  be  the  case,  we  must  change  our  present 
conception  of  the  Simday  School. 

At  present  it  is  regarded  by  very  many  as  being  de- 
signed for  the  youth  alone,  and  as  being  a  place  for  reli- 
gious worship  and  exhortation  rather  than  religious  in- 
struction and  training. 

Let  me  make  one  or  two  suggestions  of  how  we  should 
regard  the  Sunday  School  of  the  future. 


We  should  have  an  enlarged  conception  of  the  Sunday 
school  and  its  place  in  modern  society. 

The  common  view  of  the  Simday  School  is  far  too  nar- 
row, both  as  regards  the  membership  of  the  school,  and 
of  the  work  that  should  be  accomplished. 


202  THE   FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

Most  persons  think  of  the  Sunday  School  as  being  in- 
tended chiefly  for  boys  and  girls — such  as  the  public 
school  is;  and  have  the  idea  that  when  a  pupil  is  old 
enough  to  leave  the  public  school  he  may  at  the  same 
time  cease  to  attend  the  Sunday  School. 

This  is  an  utterly  wrong  view.  The  Sunday  School 
is  the  Bible  school  for  the  entire  Church.  It  should 
make  its  appeal  to  every  member  of  the  community. 
No  one  is  too  old  to  study  God's  Word.  In  these  days 
when  there  is  so  little  Bible  reading  or  study  in  the  home, 
it  is  the  more  important  that  we  should  have  it  in  the 
Sunday  School. 

The  interest  now  being  taken  in  the  organized  Bible 
Class  is  most  encouraging.  It  is  an  indication  of  the 
fact  that  men  are  beginning  to  reahze  that  the  Sunday 
School  is  not  for  boys  and  girls  alone. 

The  formation  of  these  large  classes  for  men  will 
make  it  easier  to  retain  the  boys  in  the  Sunday  School. 
When  they  see  their  fathers  in  the  school,  they  will 
not  be  so  apt  to  feel  that  they  are  growing  too  old  to 
be  members. 

Through  the  Home  Department,  we  can  meet  the  needs 
of  invalids,  of  men  and  women  who  are  too  busy  to  at- 
tend the  Sunday-school  service,  and  of  any  others  who 
may  be,  for  various  reasons,  unable  to  be  present  at  the 
session  of  the  school. 

It  will  require  time  and  effort  to  lead  the  Church 
and  community  in  general  to  adjust  their  ideas  of  the 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  203 


Sunday  School  to  this  new  and  enlarged  conception  of 
its  mission  and  work. 

It  can  be  done,  however,  and  it  should  be  done.  The 
experience  of  many  schools  shows  us  the  possibilities  of 
success  in  this  direction.  The  subject  is  so  vitally  im- 
portant in  its  bearings  upon  the  reHgious  life  of  both 
Church  and  State,  that  no  effort  would  seem  to  be  too 
great  to  bring  it  to  pass. 

11. 

The  Sunday  School  should  he  regarded  as  a  real  school^ 
where  serious  study  is  being  done. 

There  is  another  illustration  of  the  widening  field  of 
the  Sunday  School ;  this  relates  to  the  work  the  average 
Sunday  School  is  doing.  Here,  again,  it  is  imperative 
that  we  enlarge  our  conception. 

At  the  present  time  few  schools  so  regard  themselves, 
and,  as  a  rule,  the  results  are  most  disastrous.  The 
ignorance  of  the  average  Simday-school  pupil  of  the 
most  familiar  facts  of  Bible  history  would  be  amusing 
if  it  were  not  so  serious.  We  take  it  for  granted  that 
they  know  these  things,  and  are  surprised  and  pained 
when  we  become  aware  of  their  ignorance. 

This  ignorance  of  the  average  Simday-school  pupil  is 
due,  in  part,  to  the  lessons  we  are  teaching  in  the  Sunday 
Schools;  and,  in  part,  to  the  way  in  which  the  lessons 
are  taught. 


204  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

While  I  believe  that  the  International  series  of  Uni- 
form Lessons  is,  upon  the  whole,  the  best  series  for  the 
average  Sunday  School,  there  is  no  doubt  that  it  needs 
the  addition  of  what  are  known  as  "  Supplemental  Les- 
sons;" and  it  is  equally  evident  that  our  pupils  must,  in 
some  way,  be  induced  so  to  study  these  lessons  that 
they  will  be  committed  to  memory  and  not  readily  for- 
gotten. The  fact  that  there  is  so  little  Bible  instruction 
given  at  home  in  these  modern  days  makes  this  appeal 
all  the  more  urgent. 

We  must  change  our  view  of  the  Sunday  School,  and 
come  to  regard  it  as  a  real  school  where  the  pupils  learn 
facts  which  they  will  remember.  At  the  present  time, 
the  majority  of  teachers  are  content  if  they  can  preserve 
order  in  their  classes  while  they  read  the  Bible  lesson 
and  preach  a  little  sermon  to  their  pupils.  This  is  better 
than  nothing,  but  it  is  not  teaching  in  its  highest  and 
best  sense. 

This  at  once  suggests  the  necessity  of  training  our 
Sunday-school  teachers.  If  we  are  to  do  the  work  that 
absolutely  must  be  done  to  avoid  failure,  we  must  have 
trained  teachers,  and  this  means  that  we  must,  in  some 
way,  train  them.  Simday  Schools  are  taking  this  sub- 
ject up  most  seriously  and  hopefully.  The  different 
denominations  are  providing  courses  of  study.  Our 
church  was  a  pioneer  in  this  matter,  and  after  several 
experiments  has  produced  a  book  which  is  regarded  by 
many  as  being,   all  things  considered,  the  best  of  its 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  205 


kind  published.  It  is  entitled  ''Preparation  for  Teach- 
ing," and  consists  of  fifty  lessons  on  the  Bible,  the  pupil, 
the  school  and  the  teacher. 

We  confidently  expect  to  see  the  time  when  a  teacher- 
training  class  will  be  regarded  as  being  as  essential  to 
a  well-organized  school  as  a  Cradle  Roll  or  a  Home  De- 
partment. 

III. 

We  must  have  an  enlarged  conception  of  the  use  we  can 
make  of  the  Sunday  School, 

We  have  not  yet  set  the  Sunday  School  in  its  right 
place  in  our  ideas  of  Church  work.  The  Church  has  its 
mission  in  the  world,  and  is  trying  to  bring  men  and 
women  imder  the  influence  of  the  Gospel.  Different 
churches  have  different  ideals  of  service,  and  varying 
methods  of  work ;  yet  every  true  Church  is  striving  to 
attain  the  same  goal  in  the  salvation  of  men  for  this  life 
and  the  life  to  come. 

How  can  any  Church  do  this?  What  agency,  what 
machinery,  will  be  the  most  effective? 

Men's  thoughts  are  turning  more  and  more  to  the 
Simday  School  as  offering  the  best  field  for  work  and 
force  for  service  that  they  can  find.  Many  a  minister 
who  has  been  relying  upon  his  sermons  to  attract  men 
and  women  to  the  Church  and  win  them  to  Christ,  is 
finding  that  he  can  accomplish  more  through  the  agency 
of  the  Simday  School.     Over  and  over,  ministers  have 


206  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

stated  this  in  Sunday-school  conferences  and  on  similar 
occasions. 

What  are  some  of  the  results  the  Church  is  striving 
to  secure? 

Prominent  among  these,  we  must  place  the  winning 
of  souls,  leading  men  to  confess  Christ  and  yield  their 
lives  to  His  service.  It  has  been  abundantly  demon- 
strated that  the  Stmday  School  presents  the  most  fruit- 
ful field  for  evangelistic  work;  and  that  the  results  of 
these  efforts  are  more  permanent  than  those  in  other 
directions.  Now  that  men  are  coming  in  such  large 
numbers  into  the  Sunday  School,  it  would  seem  wise  for 
the  Church  to  turn  its  thoughts  in  an  especial  way  to 
evangelistic  work  in  the  Sunday  School. 

The  development  of  Christian  character  must  always  be 
an  important  part  of  the  work  of  the  Church.  We  must 
constantly  strive  to  make  men  more  intelligent,  more 
liberal,  more  devoted  to  high  ideals  and  earnest  service. 

This  can  be  done  through  the  preaching  services  and 
prayer-meeting  services,  but  the  Simday  School  offers  an 
opportunity  for  such  effort  far  more  inviting  and  hope- 
ful. In  the  Sunday  School  we  have  the  youth,  with  their 
characters  as  yet  unformed  and  in  a  plastic  condition. 
If  there  we  systematically  and  intelligently  instruct  and 
train  them,  the  result  will  be  far  greater  than  we  could 
expect  from  the  same  efforts  put  forth  in  later  years. 

The  Church  can  never  be  satisfied  vmtil  it  has  in  some 
way  secured  the  earnest  reading  and  study  of  the  Bible 


IN    GERMAXTOWN.  207 


on  the  part  of  all  its  members.  However  difficult  this 
may  be,  it  must  ever  be  one  of  the  objects  of  endeavor 
on  the  part  of  the  Church  imtil  it  has  been  attained. 

Here,  again,  we  point  to  the  Sunday  School  as  present- 
ing the  most  hopeful  opportimity  for  securing  this  end. 
As  a  matter  of  fact,  it  is  true  at  the  present  time  that 
there  is  more  regular  systematic  reading  and  study  of 
the  Bible  in  connection  with  the  Sunday  School  than 
with  any  other  agency;  and  if  the  Sunday  School  can 
be  given  the  place  in  the  work  of  the  Church  which  we 
are  asking  for  it,  this  study  of  the  Bible  will  be  increased 
many  fold. 

One  other  important  field  of  Church  activity  may  be 
mentioned.  It  is  the  effort  to  touch  the  homes  of  the 
community  in  a  helpful  way  and  bring  them  into  sym- 
pathy with  the  Church  and  its  plans  and  purposes. 

Every  Church  desires  to  do  this.  Many  methods  are 
being  tried.  Are  any  of  them  better;  are  any  of  them 
equal  to  the  plan  of  making  use  of  the  Stmday  School  ? 

Every  home  in  which  a  Sunday-school  pupil  is  found 
has  a  living  link  binding  it  to  the  Church.  That  home 
is  part  of  the  Church  field  of  legitimate  service.  The 
Cradle  Roll  makes  the  little  baby  a  member  of  the  school, 
wins  the  parents'  interest  and  opens  the  door  of  the 
home. 

The  Home  Department  does  the  same  for  the  invalids 
and  those  who  cannot  attend  the  sessions  of  the  school. 
The  Adult  Bible  class  brings  men  and  women  into  touch 


208  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

with  the  Church  and  its  varied  activities  through  their 
connection  with  the  Sunday  School. 

What  better  plan  could  be  suggested  for  going  out 
into  any  community  and  winning  the  sympathy  and  co- 
operation of  the  families  of  that  community,  and  opening 
the  doors  of  these  homes  to  the  pastor  or  any  other  Church 
visitor,  than  to  go  as  the  representative  of  some  one  of 
the  departments  of  the  graded  Sunday  School,  which 
enrolls  among  its  members  all  classes  and  ages? 

This  may  seem  to  you  a  very  ambitious  programme, 
and  an  effort  to  give  the  Stmday  School  a  place  in  the 
Church  and  community  more  important  than  it  can  fairly 
claim. 

On  the  other  hand,  let  us  remember  the  vital  character 
of  the  problem  of  Christian  education,  and  consider  the 
fact  that  so  many  are  looking  to  the  Simday  School  as 
the  most  helpful  agency  for  solving  it.  Let  us  remember, 
further,  that  the  Simday  School  is  not  an  organization 
apart  from  the  Church,  or  in  any  way  a  rival  of  the 
Church.  The  Simday  School,  rightly  understood,  is  the 
Church  studying  the  Word  of  God ;  and  when  we  mag- 
nify the  Sunday  School,  we  are,  in  reality,  exalting  the 
Church  itself. 

What  more  appropriate  time  or  place  could  we  find 
for  a  review  of  the  Sunday  School,  and  a  consideration 
of  its  rapidly  widening  field  ?  We  are  to-day  celebrating 
the  one  hundredth  anniversary  of  a  Church  that  has  al- 
ways been  in  the  deepest  sympathy  with  the  Sunday 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  209 


School;  and  one  which  has  in  its  own  experience  seen 
the  rich  harvests  that  may  be  gleaned  in  this  fruitful 
field. 

As  we  enter  upon  another  period  in  the  development 
of  this  Church,  let  us  determine  that  we  will  give  the 
Sunday  School  an  even  larger  place  in  our  sympathies 
and  activities  than  we  have  done  in  the  past. 

It  is  scarcely  necessary  for  me  to  say  how  deeply  inter- 
ested I  am  in  these  services  to-day;  and  how  heartily  I 
congratulate  you  upon  the  influences  for  good  that  have 
gone  forth  from  this  Church  during  these  many  years. 

With  especial  interest  do  I  recall  the  Simday-school, 
meeting  in  the  old  Church  building  on  the  Main  street. 
Here  I  received,  as  a  boy,  that  instruction  and  training 
which  have  been  so  valuable  to  me  in  my  life's  experi- 
ences ;  and  here  I  had  my  first  experience  as  a  Sunday- 
school  teacher. 

In  the  light  of  these  memories  of  the  past,  and  with  a 
deep  appreciation  of  my  indebtedness  to  the  Sunday 
School  of  the  First  Presb3rterian  Church,  I  join  with  you 
in  the  prayer  that  God's  richest  blessing  may  rest  upon 
it  as  it  goes  forward  into  the  beneficent  activities  of  the 
future. 


210  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

THE   CHURCH   OF   CHRIST 

By    Professor   Charles    R.    Erdman,    of    Princeton. 
Text— Ephesians  4:  1-16. 

The  surpassing  importance  and  specific  character  of 
this  occasion  may  explain  the  selection  of  a  subject  so 
vast  as  to  defy  exhaustive  treatment,  yet  of  such  appro- 
priateness as  to  almost  inevitably  command  our  thought. 
The  mention  of  "  The  Church  of  Chris  f  at  once  presents 
to  us  countless  vistas  of  truth.  We  are  reminded  of  her 
origin,  her  power,  her  destiny,  of  the  infinite  price  at 
which  she  was  redeemed,  of  the  supreme  task  to  which 
she  has  been  called,  of  the  problems  by  which  she  is  now 
faced,  of  the  glory  which  she  will  ultimately  share,  and 
we  are  almost  bewildered  by  the  infinite  variety  of 
related  and  inspiring  themes;  yet,  as  we  are  to-night 
reviewing  the  history  of  an  individual  congregation,  it 
may  be  of  interest  and  of  profit  to  confine  ourselves  to 
some  of  the  suggestions  contained  in  a  single  paragraph 
of  the  epistle  to  the  Ephesians,  and  to  recall  what  that 
brief  section  of  Scripture  suggests  in  reference  to  the  life, 
the  growth  and  the  maturity  of  the  Universal  Church. 
Through  three  chapters  the  apostle  has  been  dwelling 
upon  the  grace  which  God  has  bestowed  upon  the  Church, 
the  body  of  Christ.  In  these  opening  verses  of  the 
fourth  chapter,  he  presents  to  us,  among  other  truths, 
the  unity  of  her  life,  the  gifts  bestowed  for  her  growth, 
the  meastire  of  her  maturity. 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  211 


I.  The  Unity  of  the  Church  is  set  forth  to  enforce  the 
exhortation  to  a  walk  worthy  of  so  high  a  calling — a 
walk  in  humility  and  lowliness,  with  a  peace  which  is 
borne  of  mutual  forbearance  and  love.  The  occasion  of 
such  an  exhortation  is  fotmd  in  what  the  apostle  has 
just  been  declaring  of  the  glorious  heritage,  of  the  high 
dignity,  of  the  grandeur  and  glory  of  the  Church.  Such 
privileges  might  engender  pride  and  self-consciousness 
and  self-dependence  and  selfish  indifference.  For  this 
reason,  Paul  reminds  his  readers  that  they  should  walk 
in  continual  remembrance  of  their  oneness  in  Christ. 
In  matchless  phrases  he  sets  forth  this  imity  in  its  seven- 
fold beauty.  "There  is  one  body,"  he  declares,  a  body 
composed  of  all  believers  united  by  faith  with  the  unseen 
Head  who  is  in  glory.  He  intimates  to  us  that  we  need 
not  be  seeking  to  achieve  church  unity.  We  need  rather 
to  rejoice  in  a  unity  which  exists  and  has  always  existed 
since  the  birthday  of  the  Church.  We  need  rather  to 
manifest  this  unity,  that  it  may  be  evident  to  the  world 
that  all  who  profess  the  name  of  Christ  are  one.  There 
is  "One  Spirit."  He  dwells  within  the  Church.  His 
power  is  sufficient  for  the  accomplishment  of  her  every 
task,  and  upon  him  the  Church  can  continually  depend. 
There  is  "  One  hope" — of  salvation,  present  and  to  come. 
In  this  we  imitedly  rejoice.  There  is  "One  Lord," 
even  Jesus  Christ,  the  head  of  the  Church  to  whom  we 
all  submit,  whose  glory  in  all  things  we  are  to  seek. 
There  is  "One  faith,"  uniting  us  as  a  vital  bond  with 


212  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

Christ,  our  Head.  It  is  no  mere  intellectual  assent  to 
some  dogma  or  creed,  but  a  conscious  identification  of 
ourselves  with  Christ.  There  is  ''One  baptism;"  regard- 
less of  its  form,  it  is  the  open  confession  of  our  faith  by 
which  we  form  a  visible  society  and  bear  our  corporate 
testimony  to  the  world.  "One  God  and  Father  of  all, 
who  is  over  all  and  through  all  and  in  all,"  to  produce 
his  work,  to  accomplish  his  purposes,  and  by  whose  love 
and  commimicated  life  we  form  one  family  in  Christ. 

Even  on  such  an  occasion  as  this,  there  may  be  no 
need  of  warning  against  the  danger  of  pride  and  self- 
confidence  engendered  by  the  review  of  a  glorious  her- 
itage, but  surely  there  may  come  to  our  minds  much  of 
inspiration,  and  the  occasion  may  assimie  a  new  dignity 
if,  while  we  recall  the  worthy  history  of  an  individual 
Church,  we  remember  the  unity  of  which  the  apostle  here 
speaks.  It  gives  a  new  importance  to  this  congregation 
to  be  reminded  of  the  many  representatives  who  can  be 
present  to-night  only  in  thought,  in  memory  and  in 
sympathetic  prayer.  It  might  give  to  our  rejoicing  a 
note  of  sadness  if  we  should  think  ourselves  separated 
from  those  of  our  ntimber  who  have  gone  forth  to  reside 
in  distant  cities,  or  who  are  laboring  beyond  the  seas. 
The  apostle  reminds  us  that  we  are  not  severed  from 
them.     We  are  all  one  to-night  and  forever. 

"Partakers  of  the  Saviour's  grace, 
The  same  in  mind  and  heart, 
Nor  pain,  nor  joy,  nor  time,  nor  space, 
Nor  life,  nor  death  can  part." 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  213 


We  think  too,  as  we  look  backward  down  the  long 
vista  of  years,  of  the  many  bright  spirits  who  in  other  days 
have  served  their  master  in  this  field  of  labour,  and  again 
comes  the  inspiring  thought  that  we  are  one  with  them; 
and  then  we  summon  to  mind  the  vast  throng  of  apostles, 
and  prophets  and  martyrs,  the  saints  of  all  the  ages  who 
have  followed  Christ  and  in  whose  footsteps  we  seek  to 
walk,  and  it  fills  us  with  a  solemn  joy  when  we  remember 
that  we  are  in  vital  imion  with  them. 

"Oh,  blest  communion,  fellowship  divine  ! 
We  feebly  struggle,  they  in  glory  shine; 
Yet  all  are  one  in  Thee,  for  all  are  Thine.     Alleluia!" 

II.  This  blessed  imity  is  perfectly  consistent,  however, 
with  a  large  variety  of  spiritual  gifts.  ''To  each  one  is 
grace  given  according  to  the  measure  of  the  gift  of  Christ." 
These  gifts  are  designed  to  enable  each  and  every  member 
of  the  Church  to  serve  and  to  strengthen  the  body  of 
Christ.  To  each  one  grace  is  given;  and  by  this  grace 
the  apostle  means  both  a  work  to  do,  and  also  power  to 
accomplish  that  work.  The  gifts  of  Christ  are  mani- 
fold. They  have  been  given  in  virtue  of  his  triumphant 
ascension,  and  they  are  now  administered  by  his  Spirit. 
The  apostle  quotes  from  the  inspired  psalm.  A  great 
victory  has  been  achieved.  Christ  has  risen,  having 
conquered  death,  and  in  a  new  and  glorious  life  he  has 
ascended  his  heavenly  throne,  and  as  a  princely  victor 
he  is  distributing  gifts  among  his  followers;  to  all  who 
obey  him  he  grants  by  his  Spirit  both  a  place  to  serve 


214  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

and  power  for  service.  Some  gifts  are  of  a  special  char- 
acter and  nature.  Men  are  fitted  by  them  for  distinct 
offices  and  special  places  in  the  life  of  the  Church: — *'  He 
gave  some  to  be  apostles" — and  he  gives  such  still. 
Men  like  Moffat  and  Carey  and  Judson  and  Morrison  and 
Paton,  who  go  forth  as  foimders  of  the  Church  in  distant 
lands.  "He  gave  some  to  be  prophets,"  and  he  still 
grants  to  his  church  men  of  prophetic  vision  who  see  the 
depths  and  the  heights  of  revealed  truth  and  who  sum- 
mon the  people  of  God  to  nobler  achievements.  "He 
gave  some  to  be  evangelists,"  and  he  still  sends  forth  to 
the  fields  at  home  and  abroad  those  who  bear  the  good 
news  of  salvation  through  Christ.  "He  gave  some  to 
be  pastors  and  teachers,"  and  he  still  is  granting  those 
who  in  the  local  Church  feed  the  flock  and  lead  them  by 
living  waters  of  refreshing  truth.  Yet  these  special 
gifts  of  the  risen  Christ  are  declared  to  be  designed  for  a 
specific  purpose.  They  have  been  given  for  "the  per- 
fecting of  the  saints  unto  the  work  of  ministering,  imto 
the  building  up  of  the  body  of  Christ."  That  is  to  say^ 
these  special  gifts,  these  official  ministers  are  appointed 
solely  to  equip  the  members  of  the  Church  for  their 
individual  labours.  These  members,  too,  have  their 
gifts  and  it  is  by  them  that  the  real  work  is  to  be  achieved. 
It  is  the  privilege  of  the  specially  equipped  minister  to 
give  spiritual  preparation  to  the  members  of  the  Church. 
They  then  are  to  perform  "the  work  of  ministry"  both 
to  their  fellow  Christians  and  to  the  world.     They  then 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  215 

are  those  who,  by  their  individual  efforts,  are  to  build 
up  the  body  of  Christ. 

During  these  passing  days  some  appreciative  mention 
has  been  made  of  those  who  during  the  ten  decades  of 
your  history  have  been  privileged  to  act  as  the  * 'pastor- 
teachers"  of  this  Church.  Let  it  be  remembered  then, 
that  in  so  far  as  they  have  served  in  accordance  with 
the  will  of  the  Master,  their  ministry  has  resulted  in  pre- 
paring the  members  of  this  Church  for  individual  ser\ace ; 
and,  while  we  would  detract  nothing  from  what  may 
have  been  suggested  as  to  the  work  of  these  Christian 
leaders,  we  cannot  but  remember  that  the  history  of 
this  Church  has  been  in  perfect  accord  with  the  state- 
ment of  the  apostle.  Its  true  growth  has  been  due  not 
merely  to  the  faithfulness  of  its  ordained  ministers  but 
to  the  continual  service  of  its  individual  members.  It 
is  for  you  in  this  present,  as  in  the  years  which  are 
past,  to  seek  more  continually  for  the  grace  which  the 
Master  is  willing  to  give,  that  you  may  achieve  your 
work  of  ministry  and  may  aid  in  building  up  the  body 
of  Christ.  Grace  is  given  to  each ;  let  each  breathe  forth 
this  prayer: 

"Oh  fill  me  with  thy  fulness,  Lord, 
Until  my  very  heart  o'erflow 
In  kindling  thought  and  glowing  word. 
Thy  love  to  tell,  thy  praise  to  show." 

III.  This  fulness  which  our  Lord  will  give  reminds  us, 
in  the  last  place,  of  what  the  apostle  suggests  as  to  the 


216  THE    FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

Measure  of  Maturity.  He  reminds  us  that  the  growth 
of  a  Church  is  not  to  be  estimated  by  the  number  of  its 
years  nor  the  enrollment  of  its  members,  but  rather  by 
its  knowledge  of  Christ  and  its  submission  to  Him.  He 
declares  that  our  efforts  are  with  a  view  to  that  result 
which  he  defines  as  "attaining  to  the  unity  of  the  faith 
and  knowledge  of  the  Son  of  God,  to  a  perfect  man,  to 
the  measure  of  the  stature  of  the  fulness  of  Christ. "  This 
unity  of  faith  and  knowledge  are  the  truest  sign  and  proof 
of  growth.  This  submission  and  devotion  to  the  Master 
are  the  surest  marks  of  maturity.  The  apostle  adds  that 
spiritual  childlishness  is  manifested  by  being  "carried 
about  by  every  wind  of  doctrine"  by  those  who  are  in- 
spired by  selfish  desires  for  gain  and  for  power.  Where 
Christ  is  truly  known,  where  lives  are  being  moulded  in 
accordance  with  his  will,  where  he  is  really  enthroned, 
there  is  being  manifested  the  maturity  of  true  life.  A 
Church  is  to  be  congratulated  upon  one  hundred  years 
of  continued  existence  ;  but  there  is  a  far  higher  ground 
for  rejoicing.  It  is  found  in  the  attainment  of  a  matiuity 
measured  by  the  knowledge  of  Christ  and  complete  sub- 
mission to  him. 

"Until  we  all  attain ":—"  Until  "—but  when?  In- 
creasingly, day  by  day ;  measurably,  year  by  year ;  com- 
pletely "when  that  which  is  perfect  is  come."  As  the 
apostle  tells  us,  Christ  will  yet  "present  to  himself"  the 
Church  for  which  "He  gave  himself;  a  glorious  Church, 
not  having  spot  or  wrinkle  or  any  such  thing;"    and  as 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  217 


these  days  of  rejoicing  have  been  seasons  of  historic  re- 
view, this  closing  hour  should  be  one  of  prophetic  vision. 
We  have  looked  with  gratitude  upon  what  God  has 
given  to  this  Church  of  united  life,  of  continuous  growth, 
of  increasing  maturity ;  but  now  that  our  greetings  have 
been  spoken,  our  retrospect  enjoyed,  our  thanksgiving 
expressed,  it  is  an  hour  for  solemn  resolution  and  for 
inspiring  hope.  Shall  we  not  determine  as  individual 
members  of  the  body  of  Christ  that  we  shall  hold  more 
tenaciously  to  him,  the  Head,  from  which  we  draw  our 
life  and  power  and  strength.  And,  shall  we  not  rejoice 
in  the  prospect  of  the  time  when  the  King  shall  appear  in 
his  beauty,  and  his  perfected  kingdom  shall  fill  with 
splendor  a  regenerated  world;  when  the  chief  glory  of 
that  world  shall  be  the  city  in  the  light  of  which  the 
nations  shall  walk — ^the  New  Jerusalem,  the  Bride  of 
the  Lamb,  the  Church  of  the  Living  God;  when  the 
the  chief  glory  of  that  city  shall  be  the  person  of  the  en- 
throned King,  the  *'  Bright  and  Morning  Star,  the  Root 
and  Offspring  of  David, "  the  Christ  "  who  is  and  was  and 
is  to  come."  To  Him  be  all  the  praise  both  now  and 
ever.     Amen. 


218  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 


APPENDIX. 


REPORTS  FROM  CHURCH  ORGANIZATIONS. 


THE   PASTORAL   AID   SOCIETY. 

A  Statement  from  The  Executive  Committee. 

**A  meeting  of  the  ladies  connected  with  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Germantown  was  held  on  Wednes- 
day, April  20th,  1870,  for  the  purpose  of  organizing,  as 
suggested  by  notice  given  from  the  pulpit  the  previous 
Sabbath."  Such  is  the  opening  sentence  of  the  old 
minute-book  of  the  Pastoral  Aid  Society. 

Rev.  J.  Frederick  Dripps  was  at  that  time,  and  for 
ten  years  after,  the  Pastor  of  the  Church,  and  gave  to 
this  organization,  of  which  he  was  the  foimder,  his  con- 
stant interest  and  assistance  in  every  possible  way.  At 
the  first  meeting  twenty-two  members  were  enrolled,  the 
proposed  Constitution  was  adopted  and  the  good  work 
begim,  which  has  continued  without  interruption  for 
the  intervening  thirty-nine  years.  The  Society  has  now 
a  membership  of  one  hundred  and  thirty,  and  it  has 
expended,  for  Congregational,  Missionary  and  Charitable 
objects  the  not  inconsiderable  stun  of  $156,000. 

Two  branches  of  Women's  Work  had  already  existed 
for  several  years  in  the  Church:  the  " Domestic"  Mission 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  219 


Society,  which  sent  large  boxes  of  clothing,  each  year, 
to  our  missionaries  in  the  West — and  the  "  Bible  Reader's 
Association,"  or  as  it  is  now  called,  the  Parish  Visitor's 
work,  which  is  confined  to  the  needy  of  our  o\\ti  con- 
gregation. These  two  immediately  united  with  the  new 
Society,  which  was  originated  for  the  purpose  of  com- 
bining all  the  work  of  the  women  of  the  Church  into 
one  united  group,  while  leaving  each  branch  entirely 
free  to  attend  to  its  own  object.  It  was  planned  to 
hold  a  combined  meeting  once  every  two  months,  so 
that  all  might  then  be  informed  of  what  each  was  doing, 
and  that  all  might  be  helpful  to  each  other,  by  sug- 
gestions and  contributions.  There  were  at  first  nine 
Committees,  and  there  are  now  twenty-five,  while  a 
number  of  others  have  been  formed  from  time  to  time, 
and  dropped  later,  when  the  special  need  for  them  was 
over.  The  total  expenditure  of  the  first  year  was  $1,596, 
while  our  last  year's  report  shows  a  total  of  $5,242.  Such 
is  a  brief  review  of  what  the  Society  has  accomplished, 
and  is  now  doing,  as  a  whole 

A  word  may  fitly  be  spoken  as  to  some  of  the  members 
who  have  helped  to  make  it  what  it  is.  Mrs.  Isaac  C. 
Jones  was  the  first  President,  serving  in  that  capacity 
for  eight  years,  and  as  Vice-President,  and  member  of  the 
Executive  Committee,  and  also  Chairman  of  the  Foreign 
Mission  Committee,  for  twelve  years  more,  imtil  her 
removal  to  the  newly  formed  Westside  Church,  in 
whose  Stmday  School — a  Mission  of  our  own  Church — 


220  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

she  had  always  been  actively  engaged.  She  was  a  dig- 
nified and  capable  officer,  deeply  interested  in  the  work. 
Mrs.  Edward  Cope  served  as  the  first  Secretary  for  a  few 
months,  and  was  succeeded  by  Miss  Eleanor  J.  Wilson, 
who  filled  the  position  most  acceptably  for  more  than 
five  years,  imtil  her  marriage,  and  removal  from  the 
Church.  The  other  original  members  of  the  Executive 
Committee  were  Mrs.  Jonathan  Graham,  for  more  than 
eighteen  years  an  imtiring  worker.  Miss  Emily  Whar- 
tenby  and  Miss  Anna  Garrett.  Mrs.  T.  C.  Henry,  from 
1873  tmtil  her  death  in  1885,  was  a  faithful  and  devoted 
member  of  the  Executive  Committee,  aiding  in  its 
work  in  every  way,  and  beloved  by  all.  Mrs.  Mary 
D.  Westcott  was  the  President,  and  Miss  J.  H.  Bacon 
the  Secretary  from  1879  until  1889.  In  1889,  at  the 
suggestion  of  Mrs.  Wescott,  who  was  removing  from 
German  town.  Miss  Bacon,  who  had  then  become  Mrs.  T. 
Charlton  Henry,  was  elected  President,  and  has  filled 
that  position  up  to  the  present  time.  Our  first  Treasurer 
was  Miss  Cornelia  Erringer,  later  Mrs.  Thomas  F.  Jones, 
who  performed  the  duties  of  that  office  for  twenty-two 
years,  tmtil  her  removal  to  the  Westside  Church.  Mrs. 
Wm.  Sidebottom  was  then  elected  Treasurer,  and  served 
for  nearly  fourteen  years.  Mrs.  J.  F.  Dripps  was  Secre- 
tary, and  member  of  the  Executive  Committee  for  about 
four  years,  from  1875  to  1879,  but  that  is  only  a  brief 
suggestion  of  her  usefulness  to  the  Society.  From  1872, 
as  Miss  Emily  Dimning,  and  later  as  the  wife  of  our 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  221 


Pastor,  she  was  untiring  in  her  interest.  Her  work  was 
more  especially  in  connection  with  the  Mothers'  Meet- 
ings, Cottage  Meetings  and  Bible  Classes.  In  devo- 
tional and  practical  Bible  study  she  was  gifted  to  a  very 
remarkable  degree,  and  her  inspiring  lessons  are  still 
held  in  grateful  remembrance.  Mrs.  Mary  D.  Pease  was 
one  of  the  charter  members ;  for  thirteen  years  one  of  the 
Executive  Committee,  and  for  thirty-five  years,  until 
her  death  in  1905,  a  devoted,  and  much  beloved  asso- 
ciate. She  was  always  active  in  Sunday-school  work, 
having  charge  of  classes  at  different  times,  in  every 
department,  from  the  Mission  Primary,  to  the  Mothers', 
and  Young  Men's  classes.  In  the  latter  she  formed  the 
Westminster  Band,  who  for  many  years  contributed 
and  worked  for  the  Westminster  Hospital  in  Persia.  Mrs. 
John  S.  Henry,  Miss  Theodosia  B.  Henry,  and  Miss 
Theodosia  Bayard  were  all  charter  members,  and  all 
specially  interested  in  the  Home  Mission  work,  in  which 
they  had  already  been  engaged  for  nineteen  years  before 
uniting  with  the  Pastoral  Aid  Society.  Miss  Henry 
was  for  six  years  a  member  of  the  Executive  Committee 
until  her  death  in  1891.  Of  all  those  mentioned,  but  two 
are  living;  all  the  others  have  passed  from  the  earthly 
work  to  the  Heavenly  reward.  Many  other  names  of 
those  who  have  gone,  and  of  those  still  laboring  with  us, 
might  well  receive  mention,  but  space  forbids.  Of  the 
original  twenty-two,  but  five  remain,  Mrs.  Charlton  H. 
Royal,  Miss  Anna  Garrett,  Mrs.  J.  L.  Erringer,  Miss  Mary 


222  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

Mansfield,  and  Miss  Jtdia  A.  Wilson,  the  latter  having 
been  for  eighteen  years  a  valued  member  of  the  Execu- 
tive Committee.  Miss  Margaret  T.  Richards  was  for 
nearly  thirty  years  an  indefatigable  worker  in  Home 
Missions,  Mothers'  Meetings,  and  other  Committees,  and 
for  ten  years  a  member  of  the  Executive  Committee, 
imtil  her  removal  to  another  city.  Mrs.  H.  B.  Carpenter 
was  for  more  than  ten  years  our  faithful  Secretary,  and 
is  still  a  member  of  the  Committee. 

For  about  two  years,  before  the  Pastoral  Aid  Society 
was  formed,  a  Bible  reader  had  been  supported  by  the 
Church,  to  visit  and  care  for  the  needy.  Mrs.  Sarah 
McNeil,  for  nearly  five  years  faithfully  attended  to  this 
duty,  but  was  then  obliged  to  give  it  up  for  a  year,  and 
Miss  M.  A.  Williams  served  for  that  interval.  Mrs. 
McNeil  returned  for  three  more  years;  failing  health 
obliged  her  to  retire.  Miss  Hawley  was  then  appointed 
for  a  year,  when  on  the  5th  of  December,  1879,  Mrs. 
Caroline  D.  Scott  accepted  the  position,  and  for  thirty 
years  has  been  a  devoted,  faithful  friend  and  helper  in 
this  exhausting  work  on  behalf  of  the  sick  and  needy. 
In  some  families  she  has  ministered  to  those  of  the 
third  and  fourth  generation.  She  has  been  of  the  great- 
est  assistance  to  the  five  Pastors  under  whom  she  has 
served,  and  has  for  many  years  been  called  our  Parish 
Visitor. 

The  Parish  Visitor's  Committee,  in  conjunction  with 
that  for  "Rehef  of  the  Poor,"   may  be  considered  as 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  223 

performing  the  work  which  would  otherwise  be  com- 
mitted to  a  Board  of  Deacons. 

Miss  Henry  was  Chairman  of  the  Home  Mission  Com- 
mittee for  fifteen  years,  and  later,  Mrs.  F.  L.  Sheppard 
for  thirteen,  tmtil  her  death  in  1904.  For  about  twenty 
years  $100  has  been  sent  annually  to  Tucson,  Arizona, 
toward  the  salary  of  a  teacher.  Two  large  boxes  have 
been  sent  each  Autumn  to  missionary  families  in  the 
West,  valued  at  several  hundred  dollars  each,  as  well  as 
other  smaller  boxes  and  gifts  for  Freedmen,  Indians  and 
Italians  in  this  country.  There  is  a  Committee  on  Social 
Receptions,  which  are  held  from  time  to  time  in  the 
Chapel,  to  promote  better  acquaintance  and  interest 
among  our  Church  members.  The  Committee  on  Relief 
of  the  Poor,  helps  to  distribute  the  gifts  received  at  our 
Communion  Services  among  our  aged  and  needy  members. 

The  Dorcas  Committee,  of  which  Mrs.  R.  Provost  has 
been  the  leader  for  sixteen  years,  meets  each  week, 
even  in  summer,  to  cut  out  and  sew  household  linen  and 
clothing,  which  are  given  to  Mrs.  Scott  for  distribution, 
or  to  one  or  other  of  the  benevolent  institutions  in  which 
we  are  interested. 

The  Foreign  Mission  Committee  for  the  first  twenty- 
five  years  contributed  to  the  support  of  Miss  Hook  in 
India,  through  the  Women's  Union  Missionary  Society. 
This  relation  has  continued  to  the  present  time  by  con- 
tributions to  the  general  fund,  and  to  their  annual  boxes 
for  India  and  China.    One  of  our  ladies  has  also  assumed 


224  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

the  support  of  a  Bible  woman  in  Japan.     The  greater 
part  of  our  work,  however,  since  November,  1872,  has 
been  carried  on  through  the  Woman's  Foreign  Mission- 
ary  Society   of   the    Presbyterian    Church,    which    was 
organized    at    that    time.     We    became    an    AuxiHary, 
and,  assisted  by  contributions  from  our  Sunday  School, 
were  among  the  first  to  assume  the  entire  support  of 
•a  Missionary,  a  quite  new  departure  in  women's  work. 
For  a  time  we  were  represented  by  Miss  Gamble  in  Japan, 
"but  in  January,   1877,  Mrs.  J.  C.  Ballagh  became  our 
Missionary,  and  greatly  increased   our   interest    by  her 
:graphic  letters  from  the  field.     For  six  years  she  con- 
tinued to  be  our  loved  representative,  when  her  strength 
failed  and  she  came  home  hoping  to  renew  her  health, 
but  after  a  few  months  died  while  still  in  Philadelphia. 
Miss  Ford  in  Syria,  and  Miss  Seeley  in  India,  were  our 
next  Missionaries,  for  two  or  three  years  each,  both  re- 
signing from  ill  health,  but  since  1890,  Mrs.  J.  B.  Dunlap 
has  been  our  devoted  representative  in  Bangkok,  Siam, 
and  her  name  has  indeed  become  a  "household  word" 
among  us.     Since  1880  we  have  also  contributed  annually 
to  the  McAll  Mission  in  France,  and  since  1891  to  the 
evangelical   work  in   Italy.     Through  the   influence   of 
foreign  missionaries,   our  bands  first  started  into  life. 
In  1876  Mrs.  Dr.  Hepburn,  of  Japan,  sent  a  request  for 
a  box  of  useful  articles  for  fancy  work,  which  was  res- 
sponded  to  by  a  party  of  young  girls  who  became  the 
"  Willing  Workers,"  and  for  seven  years  they  sent  money 


IN    GERMANTOWN,  '  225 


and  boxes  and  supported  a  scholar.  The  *  *  Miriam  Band '  '^ 
was  organized  in  1879,  to  assist  Mrs.  Ballagh.  This  band 
was  for  years  under  the  care  of  Miss  T.  B.  Henry,  until 
her  removal  from  Germantown  in  1890,  since  which  time 
Miss  Mary  Mansfield,  one  of  our  charter  members,  has 
been  its  leader.  They  supported  a  scholarship  in  Chefoo,. 
China,  and  later  assumed  the  entire  salary  of  a  Bible 
woman  in  Yokohama.  By  a  pleasant  coincidence,  this 
woman  proved  to  be  one  of  the  girls  whom  they  had 
helped  to  educate  ten  years  before.  They  have  sent 
boxes  to  many  different  places  in  both  the  home  and 
foreign  field  as  well  as  to  special  families  in  our  Southern 
States.  "Christ's  Little  Ones,"  of  the  Primary  Simday 
School,  started  the  same  year,  and  much  good  has  been 
accomplished  by  the  pennies  so  willingly  and  gladly 
given  by  those  little  hands  in  all  these  thirty  years,  and 
the  good  work  still  goes  on.  In  1881  ''The  Elliot  Boys' 
Band"  was  organized,  which  in  1888  became  two,  by 
division  into  Senior  and  Junior  sections.  They  are  still 
active,  under  the  leadership,  all  this  time,  of  Miss  Valeria 
F.  Penrose,  whose  faithful  service  for  more  than  twenty 
years  as  secretary  for  Young  People's  Work  in  this 
Presbytery  has  made  her  so  widely  known  as  an  expert 
in  mission  work,  and  who  has  given  to  her  own  Church 
the  full  benefit  of  her  experience  and  her  untiring  de- 
votion. 

In  1882  the  "Young  Men's  Westminster  Band,"  al- 
ready  mentioned   as   having   been    organized   by   Mrs. 


226  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

Pease,  assumed  support  of  a  bed  in  Westminster  Hospital, 
at  Oroomiah.  This  Band  continued  in  active  service  for 
sixteen  years.  From  another  Band,  *'The  Watchers," 
formed  in  1878,  there  are  now  two  members  at  work 
on  the  foreign  field,  both  wives  of  medical  missionaries, 
one  in  China,  the  other  in  India.  In  1888  the  Watchers 
graduated  into  our  F.  M.  Auxiliary,  having  enjoyed  un- 
usual privileges  for  ten  years,  under  the  leadership  of 
Miss  Hannah  More  Johnson.  A  number  of  other  Bands  did 
good  work  for  different  periods,  such  as  the  ''Sunrise," 
for  girls  under  fourteen  years  of  age,  the  "Brainerd," 
the  "Traveller's  Club,"  the  "John  G.  Paton  Club,"  for 
boys.  The  "Christian  Work  Club,"  formed  in  1895,  as 
the  Young  Ladies'  Band,  was  most  faithful  for  a  number 
of  years  in  helping  both  the  home  and  foreign  work. 
The  "Whosoever  Will  Band"  was  an  outgrowth  of  the 
Mothers'  Meetings,  the  women  gladly  contributing  of 
their  time  and  labor  for  missionary  purposes.  In  1884 
two  Chinamen  came  each  Sunday,  to  be  taught  by  Mrs. 
Scott.  This  was  the  beginning  of  a  regular  school  which 
was  continued  for  sixteen  years,  when  several  of  the 
men  returned  to  China,  others  moved  to  the  city,  and  our 
work  closed. 

"The  Young  Women's  Guild,  "with  a  membership  of 
twenty-five,  has  become  deeply  interested  in  the  Mission 
Study  led  by  Mrs.  W.  B.  Jennings,  and  has  also  con- 
tributed toward  the  salary  of  one  of  our  former  members, 
now  at  work  in  Japan,  and  to  our  home  board.     "The 


IN    GERMANTOWX.  227 


McAll  Mission,"  in  France,  and  Evangelical  Work  in 
Italy,  have  also  been  aided  by  us,  for  a  number  of  years 
past. 

During  the  present  year,  1909,  the  home  and  foreign 
workers  have  arranged  to  hold  joint  meetings  under  a 
common  president,  but  retaining  their  distinct  commit- 
tees and  treasuries.  Mrs.  J.  S.  MacCracken  was  elected 
as  the  first  joint  president. 

In  our  Congregational  Work,  Mothers'  Meetings  are 
held  weekly  from  November  to  April.  The  Flower  Com- 
mittee, under  the  care  of  Mrs.  John  J.  Henry,  supplies 
flowers  for  the  Church  each  week,  with  generous  abun- 
dance, and  these  are  distributed  later,  to  the  sick  or 
bereaved.  The  Vacation  Committee  is  enabled  by  small 
contributions  from  many,  to  send  needy  ones  to  the  sea 
or  cotmtry  for  rest.  The  Lend-a-hand  Club  holds  a 
meeting  each  week,  at  which  yoimg  girls  are  taught 
in  various  lines  of  useful  work,  dressmaking,  millinery, 
&c.,  as  well  as  in  literature  and  current  events.  A 
Girls'  Sewing  Class,  and  Mothers'  Dressmaking  Class 
are  regularly  maintained  by  Mrs.  John  J.  Henry,  under 
competent  teachers,  and  have  proved  most  useful. 
For  twenty-three  years  the  Committee  on  Care  of 
the  Church  Building  has  had  for  chairman  Mrs.  Enoch 
Taylor,  and  the  prevailing  neatness  and  order  testifies  to 
its  faithfulness.  Regular  contributions  have  long  been 
sent  annually  to  the  Presbyterian  Home  for  Widows, 
the  Presbyterian  Orphanage,  the  Presbyterian  Home  for 


228  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

Aged  Couples,  the  Women's  Christian  Association,  and 
to  various  hospitals,  through  their  several  Committees. 

We  are  constantly  asked  for  reports  of  our  work,  and 
many  other  societies  in  various  states  have  been  formed 
upon  our  plan.  The  following  figures  will  show  what  has 
been  expended  through  the  Pastoral  Aid  Society  during^ 
the  thirty-nine  years  ending  April  1st,  1909. 

Home  and  Foreign  Missions $74,617 .  77 

Congregational  Work 51,702 .51 

Benevolent  Institutions 29,747 .21 

Total $156,097.49 


[At  a  meeting  of  the  Executive  Committee  of  the 
Pastoral  Aid  Society  held  October  10,  1909,  the  following 
resolution  was  tmanimously  adopted : — 

**  Resolved,  that  distinct  recognition  should  be  given 
to  the  faithful  service  of  our  beloved  president,  Mrs. 
T.  Charlton  Henry.  She  has  been  a  member  of  this 
Society  for  thirty-three  years,  was  Secretary  for  more 
than  eleven  years,  and  has  been  president  for  the  past 
twenty  years.  Her  fellow- workers  desire  to  express 
their  appreciation  of  the  remarkable  service  which  she 
has  thus  rendered,  not  only  to  the  society,  but  to  the 
Church  itself."] 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  229 


The  list  of  officers  is  as  follows : 

Presidents. 

Mrs.   Isaac  C.  Jones,  April,   1870-1878. 

Mrs.  Mary  D.  Westcott,  April,   1878-October,   1889. 

Mrs.  T.  Charlton  Henry.  October,   1889- 

Vice-Presidents. 

Mrs.  Edward  Cope,  1879-1881. 
Mrs.  I.  C.  Jones,  April,   1881-October,  1892. 
Mrs.  S.  G.  Dennisson,  October,   1892-April,   1908. 
Mrs.  J.  S.  McCracken,  April,  1908- 

Secretaries. 

Mrs.  Edward  Cope,  May-December,    1870. 

Miss  Eleanor  J.  Wilson,  December,   1870-June,   1875. 

Mrs.  J.  F.  Dripps,  June,   1875-April,   1878. 

Miss  J.  H.  Bacon  (Mrs.  T.  Chariton  Henry),  April,  1878-October, 

1889. 
Mrs.  H.  B.  Carpenter,  October,   1889-February,   1900. 
Mrs.  Charles  H.  Scott,  February,  1900- April,  1903. 
Mrs.  Everard  F.  Tibbott,  April,  1903- 

Treasurers. 

Miss  Cornelia  Erringer  (Mrs.  Thomas  F.  Jones),  May,  1870- 

October,  1892. 
Mrs.  William  Sidebottom,  October,  1892-April,  1906 
Mrs.  Enoch  Taylor,  April,  1906- 

Parish  Visitors. 

Mrs.  S.  McNeil,  for  eight  years  to  November,   1874. 

Miss  Mary  A.  Williams,  about  one  year. 

Miss  Hawley,  about  one  year. 

Mrs.  Caroline  D.  Scott,  thirty  years  from  December  5,  1879. 


230  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 


MEMBERS   OF   THE   EXECUTIVE   COMMITTEE. 

Mrs.  Isaac  C.  Jones 1870-1878;  1880-1892 

Miss  E.  J.  Wilson 1870-1875 

Mrs.  Jonathan  Graham 1870-1888 

Miss  E.  Whartenby 1870-1878 

Miss  Anna  Garrett 1870-1871 

Mrs.  T.  C.  Henry 1873-1885 

Mrs.  J.  F.  Dripps 1875-1879 

Mrs.  M.  D.  Westcott 1878-1890 

Miss  Bacon  (*Mrs.  T.  Charlton  Henry) 1878- 

Miss  T.  B.  Henry 1885-1891 

♦Mrs.  Enoch  Taylor 1888 

♦Miss  Julia  A.  Wilson 1891 

♦Mrs.  H.  B.  Carpenter 1889-1900;  1908- 

Mrs.  J.  O.  Pease 1892-1905 

Mrs.  F.  L.  Sheppard 1893-1904 

Miss  M.  T.   Richards 1893-1903 

Mrs.  S.  G.  Dennisson 1894-1908 

Mrs.  Charles  H.  Scott 1900-1908 

Mrs.  James  A.  Elliott 1903-1906 

♦Mrs.  E.  F.  Tibbott 1903- 

Mrs.  William  Sidebottom 1904-1906 

Miss  Anna  J.  Upham 1904-1905 

♦Mrs.  J.  S.  McCracken 1906- 

♦Mrs.  W.  M.  Longstreth 1906- 

♦Mrs.  F.  McKnodle 1907- 

♦Mrs.  W.  B.  Jennings 1909- 

*  Present  members. 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  231 


CHAIRMEN  OF  COMMITTEES. 

Permanent  Nominating  Committee. — Mrs.  Charles  M.  Lukens. 
Women's   Missionary  Society. — Mrs.   J.   S.    McCracken,   President: 

Mrs.  W.  B.  Jennings,  First  Vice-President;   Mrs.  F.  M.  Knodle, 

Second  Vice-President. 
Foreign  Committee. — Miss  V.  F.  Penrose. 
Home  Committee. — Mrs.  George  Rich. 
Devotional  Committee. — Miss  Carpenter. 
Box  Committee. — Mrs.  W.  R.  Young. 
Hostess  Committee. — Mrs.  George  E.  Tilge. 
The  Miriam  Band. — Miss  Mary  Mansfield. 
The  Young  Woman's  Guild. — Miss  Helen  McCracken. 
Woman's  Union  Missionary  Society. — Mrs.  F.  A.  North. 
The  McAll  Mission. — Mrs.  Charlton  H.  Royal. 
Evangelical  Work  in  Italy. — Mrs.  James  G.  Kitchen. 
Parish  Visitor's  Work. — Mrs.  T.  Charlton  Henry. 
Mothers'  Meetings. — Mrs.  J.  G.  Kitchen. 
Relief  of  the  Poor. — Mrs.  Catharine  Carpenter. 
Dorcas  Society. — Mrs.  Roderick  Provost. 
Flower  Committee. — Mrs.  John  J.  Henry. 
The  Lend-a-Hand  Club. — Miss  Barbara  Brown. 
Woman's  Temperance  and  Sabbath  Alliance  Society. — Miss  Wilkinson. 
Care  of  Church  Building. — Mrs.  Enoch  Taylor. 
Social  Receptions. — Mrs.  Charles  M.  Lukens. 
Vacation. — Miss  Carrie  D.  Spebse. 
Presbyterian  Home  for  Widows  and  Single  Women. — Mrs.   Enoch 

Taylor. 
Presbyterian  Orphanage. — Mrs.  John  F.  Simons. 
Home  for  Aged  Couples  and  Aged  Men  at  Bala. — Mrs.  Francis   M. 

Knodle. 
Hospitals. — Miss  Martha  R.  Heyl. 
Women's  Christian  Association. — Miss  Lillian  McCracken. 


232  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 


THE  MEN'S  ASSOCIATION. 


AN  OFFICIAL  STATEMENT. 

This  Association  was  organized  on  Tuesday,  January 
7th,  1908,  at  the  Church  building.  In  spite  of  a  wintry 
storm,  there  were  present  two  hundred  men.  Mr.  Frank 
Leake  presided,  and  explained  that  the  meeting  had 
been  called  together  as  the  result  of  an  informal  confer- 
ence of  men  recently  held  at  the  Manse,  at  the  desire  of 
the  Pastor,  Dr.  Jennings,  in  order  to  consider  the  best 
method  of  developing  the  men's  work  of  the  Church. 
It  was  agreed  at  once,  that  an  organization  be  effected, 
and  that  a  Constitution  be  adopted.  A  copy  of  this 
Constitution  is  presented  herewith,  as  also  a  list  of  the 
various  Committees,  and  the  present  officers  of  the  As- 
sociation. The  Association  has  assisted  the  Board  of 
Trustees  in  placing  a  portion  of  the  Parish  House  in 
order  for  the  use  of  the  men,  as  Reading  Room  and 
Gymnasium.  The  Association  has  also  assisted  the 
Board  of  Trustees  in  the  decoration  and  refurnishing 
of  the  Main  Auditorium  of  the  Church. 

In  accomplishing  the  above,  a  guarantee  fund  of  ten 
thousand  dollars  was  secured  by  general  subscription  ^ 
about  one-fourth  of  which  remains  on  call. 

The  Association  has  held  monthly  meetings  in  the 
nine  Fall,  Winter  and  Spring  months.  Lectures  and  other 
entertainments,  accompanied  by  light  refreshments,  have 
been  provided  at  these  meetings.  The  membership  of  the 
Association,  as  enrolled,  is  249. 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  233 


OFFICERS  OF  THE  ASSOCIATION. 

William  J.  Latta,  President. 
William  L.  McLean,  First  Vice-President. 
William  J.  McLaughlin,  Second  Vice-President. 
Edward  Hutchinson,  Third  Vice-President. 
Rev.  B.  F.  Farber,   General  Secretary. 
William  M.  Tarr,  Treasurer. 

EXECUTIVE   COMMITTEE. 

Rev.  W.  Beatty  Jennings,  D.D. 
John  J.  Henry, 
Frank  Leake, 
Florence  J.  Heppe, 
William  M.  Longstreth. 

CHAIRMEN   OF   COMMITTEES. 

Religious  Work. — Edward  Hutchinson,  Jr. 

Educational  Lectures  and  Topics. — Frank  Leake. 

Bible  Study. — Alexander  Martin.. 

Hospital  and  Auxiliary  Mission  Work. — E.  C.  Cutler. 

Sunday  School. — Lieutenant  G.  S.  Galbraith. 

Music. — Florence  J.  Heppe. 

Ways  and  Means. — W.  J.  McLaughlin. 

History. — Ashbel  Welch. 

Church  Improvement. — ^John  J.  Henry. 

Relief  and  Employment. — Melvin  H.  Harrington. 

Refreshments  and  Decoration. — E.  F.  Tibbott. 

Membership. — Dr.  Walter  B.  Adams. 

To  Assist  in  Raising  Funds  for  the  Church. — ^James  S.  McCracken^ 

Auditing. — H.  O.  Chapman. 

Temperance. — ^Jacob  C.  Bockius. 

BOYS'   CLUB. 
Meets  every  Tuesday  and  Thursday  at  8  P.  M.,  in  the  Parish  House. 
William  M.  Bernhard,  Superintendent. 
Irvin  Neiheiser,  President. 
Gilbert  McNabb,   Vice-President. 
Henry  Belville,    Secretary. 
■"  Augustus  Magee,  Treasurer. 


234  THE    FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 


CONSTITUTION. 

Name. 

The  Men's  Association  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church    in    Germantown. 

Object. 

To  produce  better  acquaintance  among  its  members. 
To  open  opportunities  to  the  men  in  the  congregation 
to  do  effective  service  for  the  growth  and  prosperity  of 
the  church. 

To  encourage  a  larger  measure  of  spiritual,  philan- 
thropic  and  social  work. 

To  stimulate  and  utilize,  in  the  advancement  of  the 
Great  Cause,  those  talents  which  men  employ  success- 
fully in  other  directions. 

Organization  and  Membership. 

This  shall  be  an  organization  of  men  to  meet  socially, 
with  officers  chosen  in  the  usual  manner,  and  a  simple 
form  of  government.  The  membership  to  include  men 
in  the  Church  and  congregation — church  membership  not 
a  requisite  to  eligibility.  Officers  to  consist  of  a  Presi- 
dent,  three  Vice-Presidents,  a  General  Secretary,  a  Treas- 
urer, and  an  Executive  Committee  of  twelve;  the  Presi- 
dent, Vice-Presidents,  the  Pastor,  General  Secretary  and 
Treasurer  to  be  members  of  this  Committee.     The  duties 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  235 


of  these  officers  shall  be  those  conforming  to  the  best 
practice  under  rules  governing  such  associations. 

Term  of  Office. 

The  officers  shall  be  elected  for  one  year.  The  Presi- 
dent shall  be  ineligible  to  succeed  himself,  and  upon 
retirement  shall  be  elected  an  Honorary  Member  of  the 
Executive  Committee.  Each  Vice-President  shall  suc- 
ceed to  the  Presidency  in  the  order  of  his  official  seniority. 
The  Annual  Election  shall  take  place  at  the  stated 
meeting  in  May. 

Entertainments. 

Monthly  meetings  may  consist  of  social  gatherings 
with  or  without  refreshments  at  the  option  of  the  Exec- 
utive Committee,  lectures,  addresses,  readings,  musicales, 
discussion  of  suitable  topics,  and  receptions  on  special 
occasions,  and  may  be  arranged  by  the  Committee  having 
such  matters  in  charge,  after  approval  by  the  Executive 
Committee.  Annual  receptions  may  be  held  at  which 
ladies,  by  invitation,  may  be  present. 

Meetings. 

Meetings  may  be  held  once  each  month,  except  during 
the  months  of  Jtme,  July  and  August,  upon  such  day^, 
near  the  close  of  the  month,  as  will  not  interfere  with 
regular  Church  meetings.  Members  to  have  the  privi- 
lege of  inviting  two  friends  to  attend  these  meetings. 


236  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

such  invitations  to  be  filed  with  the  General  Secretary 

in  advance. 

Finance  and  Dues. 

The  stated  dues,  payable  semi-annually  in  advance, 
shall  be  two  dollars  per  annum.  The  disbursements 
shall  first  be  approved  by  the  Executive  Committee. 
Chairmen  of  various  Committees,  at  the  opening  of  each 
year,  shall  furnish  an  approximate  estimate  of  the  sums 
required  by  the  Committee  for  the  season.  The  Audit 
Committee  shall  report  at  the  meeting  in  May. 

Committees. 

That  the  work  of  the  Church  to  which  this  Association 
may  direct  its  efforts  shall  not  fall  upon  a  few,  and  that 
as  many  as  possible  be  enlisted  in  the  cause,  the  following 
Committees  may  be  constituted,  the  Chairmen  to  be  ap- 
pointed by  the ;  President,  and  the  members  composing 
the  same  to  be  selected  for  appointment  by  and  with 
the  co-operation  of  the  Executive  Committee  and  the 
Chairmen  of  the  respective  Committees — the  object  being 
to  give  to  each  man,  as  far  as  possible,  such  work  as  he 
is  best  qualified  to  perform,  with  a  view  of  obtaining  im- 
mediate and  effective  results: 

Committee  on  Ways  and  Means. — Mr.  W.  J.  McLaughlin,  Chairman. 
Hospital   and  Axixiliary  Mission   Work. — Mr.   Edward   C.    Cutler, 

Chairman. 
Education,  Lectures,  Etc. — Mr.  Frank  Leake,  Chairman. 
Auditing  Committee. — Mr.  Harry  O.  Chapman,  Chairman. 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  237 


Religious  Work  Committee. — Mr.  W.  M.  Longstreth,  Chairman. 
Relief  and  Employment. — Mr.  Melvin  H.  Harrington,  Chairman. 
Bible  Study. — Mr.  Alexander  Martin,  Chairman. 
Committee  on  Church  and  Association  History. — Mr.  Ashbel  Welsh, 
Chairman. 

Music  Committee. — Mr.  F.  J.  Heppe,  Chairman. 

Sabbath-School  Committee. — Mr.  Franklin  L.  Sheppard,  Chairman. 
Entertainment    and   Decoration. — Mr.    William    M.    Davison,   Jr., 
Chairman. 

Committee  on  Financial  Assistance  in  Providing  Ftmds  for  Church 
Maintenance  and  Missions. — Mr.  James  S.  McCracken,  Chairman. 
Membership  Committee. — Mr.  Edwin  H.  Chapman,  Chairman. 
Church  Improvement. — Mr.  John  J.  Henry,  Chairman. 
Committee  on  the  Temperance  Movement. — Mr.  Jacob  C.  Bockius, 


Chairman. 


YOUNG   PEOPLE'S   SOCIETY  OF   CHRISTIAN   ENDEAVOR. 

The  Christian  Endeavor  Society  was  organized  in 
December,  1887,  when  Dr.  Wood  was  pastor,  and  he  was 
its  first  President. 

There  were  about  fifty  members  at  first,  but  the 
membership  increased  until  it  was  three  times  this 
nimiber. 

The  members  of  the  Christian  Endeavor  have  always 
been  regular  attendants  of  the  regtilar  Wednesday  even- 
ing service.  When  Mr.  Erdman  was  pastor  very  often 
one-third  of  the  attendance  was  made  up  of  Christian 
Endeavor  members. 

The  work  of  the  Society  has  been  along  missionary 
lines.     Every  month  a  Missionary    meeting    has    been 


238  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

held.  Every  country  has  been  studied  with  great  in- 
terest. 

Once  a  week  during  the  past  five  Winters  and  Springs, 
Mission  Study  Classes  have  been  held.  Systematic 
giving  and  Self -Denial  Weeks  have  been  practiced.  One 
year  two  himdred  and  eight  dollars  were  given  to  Home 
and  Foreign  Missions.  Once  a  month  during  the  Winter 
meetings  have  been  held  at  the  Almshouse.  In  the 
Summer,  open-air  meetings,  at  Vernon  Park,  have  been 
arranged  by  this  Society. 

A  great  deal  of  Missionary  spirit  has  been  aroused  by 
training  the  members  to  read  Missionary  books — a  good 
library  of  about  200  volumes  being  owned  by  this 
Society. 

We  had  a  Junior  Society  for  about  six  years,  which 
grew  into  an  Intermediate  Society,  and  now^  some  of 
those  Juniors  are  officers  in  the  Senior  Society. 

The  Social  Evenings  have  strengthened  the  good  work. 
Some  of  our  own  members  are  now  working  under  the 
Boards  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Meetings  have  been 
held  at  which  we  have  studied  about  our  own  Denomi- 
nation and  Church  Government,  Temperance  and  Sabbath 
Observance,  and  in  fact  all  topics  that  would  interest 
or  instruct  the  young  have  been  brought  before  us  during 
during  these  past  years.  But  putting  all  these  extra 
matters  aside,  the  deepest  spiritual  feeling  has  always 
been  a  featiure  of  this  Society.  "For  Christ  and  the 
Church"  has  truly  been  its  motto. 


IN    GERMANTOWX.  239 


OFFICERS,  1908-1909. 

Edward  L.   Pugh,  President. 

Howard  Roberts,  First  Vice-President. 

Walter  Ferguson,  Second  Vice-President. 

Miss  Susan  Waugh  Carson,  Corresponding  Secretary 

Miss  Emeline  Moore,  Recording  Secretary. 

Miss  Ida  Pope,  Treasurer. 

Miss  Frances  A.  Cutler,  Librarian. 


CHAIRMEN   OF   COMMITTEES. 

Lookout. — Miss  M.  Louise  Moore. 

Missionary. — Miss  Helen  Newland. 

Prayer  Meeting. — T.  Ross  Topley. 

Calling  and  Welcome. — Miss  Blanche  Thompson. 

Relief  and  Flower. — Miss  Vera  Thorpe. 

Sunday  School. — Miss  Katharine  G.  McIntosh. 

Literature  and  Evangelistic. — Miss  Alberta  Schwartz. 

Social. — Miss  Dorothea  Schell, 

Music. — Paul  Ferguson. 

Intermediate  Society. — William  M.  David. 


INTERMEDLA.TE   SOCIETY   OF   CHRISTIAN   ENDEAVOR. 

Meets  every  Sunday  Afternoon  at  3  o'clock. 

Miss  Vera  Thorpe,  Miss  Blanche  W.  White,  William  M.  David, 
Superintendents . 

Officers. 

Miss  Rachel  Watson,  President.  t 

Alexander  Balfour,  Vice-President. 
Miss  Dorothy  B.  Williams,  Secretary. 
William  White,  Treasurer. 


240  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 


SUNDAY   SCHOOLS    OF   THE    CHURCH 

Organized  April  25th,  1819. 
Meet  every  Sunday  at  9.30  A.  M. 


MAIN   SCHOOL. 

OFFICERS. 

William  M.  Longstreth,  Superintendent. 

John  J.  Henry,  Assistant  Superintendent. 

E.  Naudain  Simons,  Assistant  Superintendent. 

Robert  A.  Davies,  Treasurer. 

Albert  J.  Yerkes,  Secretary. 

William  M.  David,  Assistant  Secretary. 

TEACHERS. 
Class  Class 

No.  No. 

1.  Miss  Helen  B.  Simons,  17.  Miss  Ellen  Kinnier, 

2.  William  J.  Peebles,  18.  W.  Marriott  Canby,  Jr., 

3.  Miss  Gertrude  Elliott,  19.  Mrs.  Frank  Leake, 

4.  Robert  A.  Davies,  20.  William  M.  Bernhard, 

5.  E.  C.  Cutler,  21.  Mrs.  James  G.  Kitchen, 

6.  Miss  Alice  E.  Claplin,  22.  Miss  Belle  F.  Clark, 

7.  Harry  C.  Thompson,  23.  Miss  Martha  R.  Heyl. 
9.  Miss  Helen  McCracken,  24.  Miss  J.  A.  Wilson, 

10.  Edward  A.  Evans,  30.  E.  Naudain  Simons, 

12.  Miss  Anna  K.  David,  31.  Mrs.  S.  G.  Dennisson. 

13.  John  J.  Henry,  32.  Bayard  Henry. 

14.  Miss  Helen  Newland,  37.  T.  Ross  Topley, 

15.  Mrs.  M.  H.  Harrington,  39.  Miss  Lillian  McCracken. 

16.  Miss  Katherine  McIntosh, 

BIBLE   STUDY   CLASS. 

*  FOR  THE  TRAINING   OF   SUNDAY-SCHOOL  TEACHERS   AND 

CHURCH  WORKERS. 

Miss  Margaret  B.  Williams,  Superintendent. 

Miss  Margaret  B.  Williams,  Instructor  Senior  Department. 

Eugene  C.  Alder,  Instructor  Junior  Department. 


IN    GERMANTOWN. 


241 


INTERMEDIATE   SCHOOL. 
OFFICERS. 

Walter  L.  Sheppard,  Superintendent. 

Henry  L.  Hodge,  Secretary  and  Assistant  Superintendent. 

H.  Cameron  Potts,  Social  Secretary. 

Oswald  H.  Schell,  Jr.,  Assistant  Secretary. 


Walter  Ferguson. 
Philip  G.  Kitchen, 
Miss  Antoinette  E.  ' 
Miss  Emily  W.  Ferguson 
Clarence  S.  Mansfield, 
Miss  Margaret  McKeown 
Miss  Emma  N.  Garrett, 
M.  K.  Sloane, 
Mrs.  E.  S.  Burgess, 
Charles  R.  Alexander, 


PRIMARY   DEPARTMENT. 
OFFICERS. 

Mrs.  Charles  M.  Lukens,  Superintendent. 
Miss  Kate  L,  Miles,  Assistant  Superintendent. 
Mrs.  Robert  D.  Carson,  Assistant  Superintendent. 
Miss  Helen  Tilge,  Organist. 
Harry  F.  Smith,  Secretary. 


TEACHERS. 

William  R 

.  Young, 

Miss 

Emma 

Klotz, 

LiAMs,     Miss 

Marion  E.  Leake, 

r,              Miss 

Mary 

L.  Sheppard, 

Mrs. 

C.  D. 

Scott, 

sf,             Mrs, 

H.  B. 

Taylor, 

Walter  A. 

Brewster, 

Miss 

S.  W. 

Carson, 

Miss 

M.  L. 

Moore, 

Miss 

Augusta  McFadden, 

Mrs.  Thomas  M.  Emmes, 
Miss  Sarah  McKeown, 
Miss  Bessie  Chapman, 
Miss  Elsie  M.  Williams, 
Miss  J.  C.  Keyser, 
Miss  Carrie  D.  Speese, 
Miss  Martha  M.  Young, 
Miss  Ellen  Knipe, 
Miss  Emeline  R.  Moore, 
Miss  Helen  Tilge, 


TEACHERS. 

Miss  Emily  Snitzer, 
Miss  Elizabeth  McKeown, 
Miss  Emily  R.  Yerkes, 
Miss  Vera  May  Thorpe, 
Miss  Blanche  W.  White, 
Miss  Anna  W.  Longstreth, 
Miss  Margaret  Borden, 
Miss  Elmira  Parmelee, 
Miss  Carrie  L.  Thorpe. 


242  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 


BEGINNERS'    CLASS. 

Miss  Miriam  Partridge,  Superintendent. 

Miss  Dorothea  Schell,  Assistant  Superintendent. 

HOME   DEPARTMENT. 

Mrs.  Caroline  D.  Scott,  Superintendent, 


SUNDAY-SCHOOL   TEACHERS'    ASSOCIATION. 

The  Pastor,  President  {ex-officio) . 
AsHBEL  Welch,  Secretary. 
Robert  A.  Da  vies,  Treasurer. 

EXECUTIVE   COMMITTEE. 
William  M.  Longstreth,  Chairman,  Mrs.  C.  M.  Lukens, 

Rev.  W.  Beatty  Jennings,  D.D..  Mrs.  Robert  D.  Carson, 

Walter  L.  Sheppard,  John  J.  Henry, 

William  R.  Young,  E.  Naudain  Simons, 

MISSIONARY   COMMITTEE. 

Miss  Lillian  McCracken,  Chairman,  Robert  A.  Davies, 

Miss  V.  F.  Penrose,  Miss  Blanche  W.  White. 

Miss  Margaret  B.  Williams,  Miss  S.  W.  Carson. 


SYSTEM   OF   SUNDAY   SCHOOL    CONTRIBUTIONS. 

The  Sunday  Schools  are  supported  by  the  Church.  All  collections  and 
contributions  are  devoted  to  missionary  purposes  under  the  direc- 
tion of  the  Teachers'  Association,  as  follows: 

December,  January,  February,  March,  April,  May:  To  Home  and 
Foreign  Missions. 

June,  July,  August:  Board  of  Ministerial  Relief  and  Board  of  Missions 
for  Freedmen. 

September:     Presbyterian  Board  of  Education. 

October:  Presbyterian  Board  of  Publication  and  Sabbath-school 
Work. 

November:    Presbyterian  Orphanage. 


IX    GERMANTOWN.  243 


SUNDAY-SCHOOL   STATISTICS. 

Year  Ending  March  31st,  1909. 

Number  of  officers,  teachers  and  scholars  enrolled: 

In  Home  Schools 732 

In  Home  Class  Department 170 

In  Somerville  Mission  School 507 

In  Somerville  Home  Department 32 

Total  Sunday-school  Membership 1441 

Number  of  scholars  received  into  Church  membership  during  year: 

From  the  Home  Schools 14 

From  Somerville  School 27 

Total 41 

Number  of  members  now  in  full  membership  of  the  Church: 

Home  Schools 428 

Somerville  School 169 

Total 597 


244  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 


THE   SOMERVILLE    MISSION    CHAPEL 

Stenton  Avenue  above  Church  Lane. 

PREACHING   SERVICE. 
Every  Sunday  at  11  A.  M.  and  8  P.  M.,  alternating  with  the  East- 
minster  Mission,  Sixty- fifth  Avenue  and  Twenty-first  Street. 

SOMERVILLE   SUNDAY   SCHOOL. 

Organized  October  25th.  1874. 

Meets  every  Sunday  at  2.45  P,  M. 

SUPERINTEITOENT. 

Jacob  C.  Bockius. 

ASSOCIATE   SUPERINTENDEIITS. 

Thomas  K.  P.  Haines,  Harry  C.  Thompson. 

SECRETARIES. 

George  W.  Williams,  Samuel  J.  Schubert, 

Henry  Studenmund. 

ORGAinST. 

Charles  F.  Greenwood. 

MUSICIAN. 

Samuel  J.  Schubert. 

LIBRARIAN. 

Joseph  Gunn,  Jr. 

SUPERINTENDENT   OF   HOME   DEPARTMENT. 

Mrs.  Mary  L.  Jakeman. 

ASSISTANTS. 
Mrs.  Joseph  Gunn  and  Mrs.  W.  H.  Hainsworth. 


IN    GERMANTOWN. 


245 


TEACHERS— MAIN   SCHOOL. 


William  T.  Seal, 
Thomas  K.  P.  Haines, 
John  Galloway, 
A.  A.  Hodge, 
Charles  F.  Greenwood, 
Miss  Emily  McKeown, 
Miss  Alice  A,  Turner, 
Mrs.  Elva  Jenney, 
Harry  C.  Thompson, 
Edward  C.  Cutler, 


Mrs.  Francis  M,  Knodle, 
Mrs.  G.  W,  Rickard, 
Mrs.  James  G.  Kitchen, 
Miss  Alice  T.  Carpenter. 
Miss  M.  A.  Swartz, 
Miss  Emma  Worthington, 
Miss  A.  E.  Campbell, 
Mrs.  J.  E.  Graham, 
Miss  Ruth  Jakeman, 
Thomas  L.  Hodge. 


JUmOR  DEPARTMENT. 

Mrs.  Francis  Kopp,  Superintendent. 

Miss  Lena  Piening,  Secretary  and  Organist. 


TEACHERS. 


Miss  Mary  J,  Williams, 
Mrs.  John  Losko, 
Miss  Annie  Piening, 


Miss  Nellie  Hainsworth, 
Edwin  H.  Robinson, 
Miss  Mary  Schubert, 


Miss  Jennie  White. 


PRIMARY  DEPARTMENT. 


Miss  Lottie  D.  Tomlinson,  Superintendent. 
Miss   Edith   Dunkerly,   Assistant   Superintendent. 
Miss  Emma  Kelsh,  Secretary. 
Miss  Jennie  Greaser,  Organist. 


TEACHERS. 

Miss  Nellie  Dunkerly, 
Miss  Bessie  Tomlinson, 
Miss  Mary  Gunn, 
Miss  Mabel  V.  Robinson, 

Miss  Ethel  W.  Wilkinson. 
Miss  Mabel  V.  Robinson,  Superintendent  of  Cradle  Roll. 


Miss  Edith  Dunkerly, 
Miss  Louise  Robinson, 
Miss  Annie  Simpers, 
Miss  Ethel  Wignall, 


246      THE  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH  IN  GERMANTOWN. 


SOMERVILLE   INTERMEDIATE    CHRISTIAN   ENDEAVOR 
SOCIETY. 

Meets  every  Sunday  evening  at  7  o'clock. 
OFFICERS. 

Charles  F.  Greenwood,  Superintendent. 
Miss  Elizabeth  Worthington,  Secretary. 
Howell  Tomlinson,  Treasurer. 

CHAIRMEN   OF   COMMITTEES. 

Prayer  Meeting. — Miss  E.  Dunkerly. 
Missionary. — Thomas  Kee. 
Lookout. — Miss  Esther  Worthingtox. 
Social. — Miss  E.  Worthington. 
Music. — Miss  Edith  Jakemax. 

SOMERVILLE  JUNIOR  CHRISTIAN  ENDEAVOR  SOCIETY. 

Meets  every  Sunday  evening  at  7  o'clock. 
OFFICERS. 

Miss  Emma  Worthington,  Superintendent. 

Edwin  H.  Robinson,  Assistant  Superintendent. 

Miss  Ethel  Wignall,  Assistant  Superintendent. 

Harry  Schubert,  President. 

Miss  Lily  Venables,  Vice-President. 

Miss  Elsie  Greaser,  Secretary. 

Miss  E.  Gomeringer,  Treasurer. 

Miss  Alice  Jakeman,  Organist. 

Miss  Ethel  Wignall,  Organist. 

SOMERVILLE   BOYS'    CLUB. 

Meets  every  Tuesday  evening  at  7.30  o'clock. 
BOARD    OF   MANAGERS. 
John  Galloway,  President. 
E.  H.  Robinson,  Secretary. 
A.  A.  Hodge,  Treasurer. 
John  W.  Tomlinson,  Jr.,  Thomas  Kee, 

Jacob  C.  Bockius,  J.  C.  Williams, 

George  W.  Williams,  John  Galloway. 


THE  CHARTER 


OF     THE 


ENGLISH   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH 
IN   GERMANTOWN. 

1814. 


CONSTITUTION 

OF 

''THE    ENGLISH    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 
IN  GERMANTOWN." 

Whereas  the  undersigned  Pew  Holders  in  the  House 
of  Worship  recently  erected  in  Germantown  in  the  County 
of  Philadelphia  and  Citizens  of  the  Commonwealth  of 
Pennsylvania  having  associated  together  as  a  church 
and  congregation  for  the  purpose  of  worshipping  Almighty 
God  and  being  desirous  of  acquiring  and  enjoying  the 
powers  and  immimities  of  a  Corporation  or  Body  Politic 
in  Law  do  declare  this  instrument  of  writing  as  their 
Constitution  Specifying  the  objects,  Articles,  Conditions, 
and  Name,  Style,  or  Title,  under  which  they  have  asso- 
ciated. 

Article  1. 

This  Corporation  shall  be  called  and  known  by  the 
Name,  Style,  and  Title  of  "The  English  Presbyterian 
Church  in  Germantown." 

Article  2. 

This  Corporation  shall  have  full  power  and  authority 
to  make  and  use  one  Common  Seal  with  such  device  and 
inscription  as  they  may  deem  proper  and  the  same  to 
break,  alter,  and  renew  at  their  pleasure,  and  by  the 

(249) 


250  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

Name,  Style,  and  Title  aforesaid  shall  be  able  and  capa- 
ble in  Law  to  sue  and  be  sued,  plead,  and  be  impleaded 
in  any  Court  or  Courts,  before  any  Judge  or  Judges, 
Justice  or  Justices,  in  all  manner  of  Suits,  Complaints, 
Pleas,  Causes,  Matters,  and  demands  whatsoever  and 
all  and  every  matter  and  thing  therein  to  do  in  as  ftill 
and  effectual  a  manner  as  any  other  person  or  persons, 
bodies  Politic  and  Corporate  within  the  said  Common- 
wealth may  or  can  do  and  shall  be  authorized  and  em- 
powered to  make  rules,  Bye  Laws,  and  ordinances,  and 
to  do  every  thing  needful  for  the  good  government  and 
support  of  the  affairs  of  the  said  Congregation  Provided 
always  that  the  said  Bye  Laws,  Rules,  and  Ordinances 
or  any  of  them  be  not  repugnant  to  the  Constitution 
and  Laws  of  the  United  States,  to  the  Constitution  and 
Laws  of  this  Commonwealth  or  to  this  Instrument. 

Article  3. 

The  said  Corporation  by  the  name.  Style,  and  Title 
aforesaid  shall  be  able  and  capable  in  Law  according  to 
the  terms  and  Conditions  of  this  instrument  to  take, 
receive,  and  hold  all  and  all  manner  of  Lands,  Tene- 
ments, Rents,  Annuities,  Franchises,  and  Hereditaments, 
and  any  sum  or  sums  of  money,  and  any  manner  and 
portion  of  Goods  and  Chattels,  given  and  bequeathed 
imto  them  to  be  employed  and  disposed  of  according  to 
the  Objects,  Articles,  and  Conditions  of  this  Instrument, 


IX    GERMANTOWN.  251 


or  according  to  the  Bye  Laws  of  this  Corporation  or  of 
the  will  and  intention  of  the  donors  Provided  that  the 
clear  yearly  value  or  income  of  the  Messuages,  Houses, 
Lands,  and  Tenements,  Rents,  Annuities,  or  other  Heredit- 
aments and  Real  Estate  of  the  said  Corporation  and  the 
Interest  of  money  by  them  lent  shall  not  exceed  the 
sum  of  Five  himdred  pounds. 

Article  4. 

Sec.  L  The  affairs  of  the  said  Corporation  shall  be 
managed  by  Twenty-six  Vestry  Men,  to  say,  in  the  first 
place  and  until  others  are  duly  elected  as  herein  after 
mentioned,  by  William  Tumbull,  Peter  Bechtel,  Joseph 
Miller,  Conrad  Carpenter,  Henry  Brimer,  Issachar  Thorp, 
George  Harral,  Michael  Riter,  Henry  Toland,  John  Smith, 
Samuel  Blair,  John  Lisle,  Silas  Weir,  James  Morrow, 
Stephen  Boisbnm,  Joseph  Jacobs,  John  McClune,  Rich- 
ard Engle,  William  Sinclair,  William  Stuart,  Richard 
McCartney,  Jacob  Bruner,  John  Cameron,  Robert  Bring- 
hurst,  Thomas  Carter,  Robt.  Boardman. 

Sec.  2.  At  the  first  annual  meeting  of  the  Corpora- 
tion the  said  vestry  men  above  named  except  those  who 
being  elders  are  vestry  men  ''ex  officio''  Shall  be 
equally  divided  into  Four  Classes  and  shall  be  drawn 
by  Lot  and  the  offices  of  the  class  first  drawn  shall  there- 
upon be  vacated.  The  offices  of  the  Class  Second  drawn 
shall   be   vacated   at   the   annual   election   in   Eighteen 


252  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 


hundred  fifteen.  The  office  of  the  Class  Third  drawn 
shall  be  vacated  at  the  annual  Election  in  Eighteen  hun- 
dred and  Sixteen  and  the  offices  of  the  Class  Fourth  and 
last  drawn  shall  be  vacated  at  the  annual  Election  in 
Eighteen  hundred  and  Seventeen  So  that  no  one  of  them 
shall  send  more  than  four  years  successively  unless 
re-elected  to  which  re-election  they  are  hereby  declared 
eligible. 

Sec.  3.  The  said  Corporation  shall  hold  an  annual 
election  on  the  first  Monday  of  January  in  each  and 
every  year  whereof  notice  shall  be  given  from  the  pulpit 
at  least  two  Sabbaths  previous  for  the  purpose  of  election 
by  ballot  vestry  men  to  serve  four  years  to  supply  the 
places  of  those  whose  office  annually  become  vacant 
and  if  by  accident  an  election  shall  not  be  held  on  that 
day  then  an  Election  shall  be  held  for  the  purpose  afore- 
said within  one  month  thereafter. 

Sec.  4.  In  case  any  vacancies  shall  happen  in  the 
said  vestry  by  death,  refusal  to  serve,  resignation,  or 
otherwise  an  Election  shall  be  held  by  the  Corporation 
as  soon  as  possible  thereafter  whereof  notice  shall  be 
given  as  aforesaid  to  supply  any  vacancy  and  the  person 
or  persons  so  elected  shall  continue  in  office  during  the 
period  for  which  the  person  or  persons  in  whose  place 
he  or  they  were  elected  might  have  continued,  and  no 
longer. 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  253 


Sec.  5.  Every  member  of  the  Corporation  holding  a 
pew,  or  seat  in  their  House  of  Worship  at  least  one  year 
prior  to  the  election  and  not  more  than  Twelve  months 
in  arrear  with  the  rent  thereof  and  none  others  shall  be 
entitled  to  vote  at  the  election  for  vestry  men,  and  none 
other  than  members  so  qualified  shall  be  eligible  to  that 
office. 

Article  5. 

The  vestry  men  and  their  successors  shall  hold  four 
stated  meetings,  say,  on  the  First  Monday  of  the  months 
of  January,  April,  July,  October  in  every  year  and  ad- 
journed and  special  meetings  from  time  to  time  as  they 
may  think  proper  always  causing  at  least  two  Sabbaths 
previous  notice  from  the  pulpit  of  such  meetings  and 
shall  have  authority  at  the  first  or  any  other  subsequent 
meeting  after  the  election  to  choose  by  Ballot  by  a 
Majority  of  votes  out  of  their  Body,  a  President,  Treas- 
urer, and  Secretary  who  shall  perform  such  duties  as  are 
implied  in  the  names  of  their  respective  appointments 
whom  they  shall  have^power  to  remove  or  continue  as 
they  or  a  majority  of  them  at  a  stated  meeting  shall 
deem  most  for  the  Benefit  of  the  Corporation,  provided 
however  that  is  shall  require  Five  members  of  the  Vestry 
to  form  a  Quorum. 

Article  6. 

The  said  vestry  men  and  their  successors  shall  be 
vested  with  the  whole  property  of  the  Corporation,  Real, 


254  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 


Personal,  and  Mixed,  and  it  shall  be  their  duty  to  rent 
the  Pews,  and  to  receive  the  rent  thereof  publick  col- 
lections, and  church  dues,  keep  the  House  of  Worship 
in  good  repair,  fix  and  pay  the  salary  of  the  Pastor, 
Clerk,  and  Sexton,  in  a  special  manner  to  take  care  that 
the  Interest  of  the  debt  already  contracted  and  which 
may  hereafter  be  contracted  for  the  purchase  of  the 
ground  and  Building  the  House  of  Worship  thereon  for 
the  use  of  this  Congregation  be  regularly  paid  and  pro- 
vide for  and  discharge  the  said  Principal  debt  so  soon 
as  the  funds  of  the  Corporation  will  justify  that  measure 
and  generally  to  transact  the  Temporal  affairs  of  the 
said  Corporation  as  shall  be  most  advantageous  and 
consistent  with  Christian  Obligations  and  Honour  and 
also  to  put  such  rules  and  ordinances  for  the  purposes 
aforesaid  as  may  be  necessary  and  proper,  and  keep  fair 
Books  of  all  their  proceedings  and  accounts  of  all  the 
monies  received  and  expended  by  them  and  shall  produce 
a  full  settlement  of  all  accoimts  and  lay  the  same  before 
the  members  of  this  Corporation  at  every  annual  meeting 
with  all  the  receipts  and  vouchers  accompanying  the 
same  for  their  perusal  and  examination. 

Article  7. 

Every  Member  holding  the  office  of  Elder  of  the  said 
Congregation  shall  Ex-Ofjicio  be  entitled  to  a  seat  and 
voice  of  the  vestry  men. 


IN    GERMANTOWN. 


255 


Article  8. 

The  said  vestry  men  or  any  individual  of  them  as  such 
shall  not  in  any  case  interfere  in  Concernments  of  the 
Constitution  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United 
States  appertaining  to  the  Pastor  or  Elders  who  by  said 
Constitution  are  invested  with  proper  powers  in  relation 
to  such  Matters. 


William  Taylor 
William  Sheepshanks 
Jacob  Miller 
Jacob  Rittenhouse 
Stephen  Boisbrun 
John  Lisle 
John  Cameron 
Thomas  Dunn 
Wm.  Turnbull 
Benjamin  Carpenter 
Yost  Smith 
John  Morrow 
T.  Carter 
Geo.  Harral 
Joseph  Miller 
IssACHAR  Thorp 
Wm.  Stewart 
Joseph  Jacobs 


Isaac  Roberdeau 
Saml.  Blair 
Thos.  Parker 
Philip  Werner 
Jonathan  Williamson 
William  Metz 
Henry  Bruner 
Conrad  Carpenter 
Richard  Macartney 
Jacob  Bruner 
Robt.  Bordman 
Silas  E.  Weir 
John  Peasly 
Saml.  Blair,  Jr. 
John  Bruner 
James  Morrow 
William  Sinclair 
Charles  Fisher 


I  Certify  that  I  have  examined  the  aforegoing  instru- 
ment and  am  of  opinion  that  the  objects,  Articles,  and 
Conditions  therein  set  forth  and  contained  are  Lawful. 


Jared  Ingersoll,  Attorney-General. 


256  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

We  the  subscribers  Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court  of 
the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania  Do  Certify  to  his 
Excellency  the  Governor  of  this  Commonwealth  that 
we  have  perused  and  examined  the  above  Instrument 
and  concur  with  Jared  Ingersoll  Esquire  Attorney  Gen- 
eral of  the  State  in  his  opinion  that  the  Objects,  Articles, 
and  Conditions  therein  set  forth  and  contained  are  lawful. 

January  4-1814,  Wm,  Tilghman 

J.  Yeates 
H.  H.  Breckenridge 

PENNSYLVANIA,  In  the  name  and  by  the  authority 
of  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania  Simon  Snyder 
Governor  of  the  said  Commonwealth  to  Nathaniel  B. 
Boileau,  Esquire  Secretary  in  and  for  the  said  Common- 
wealth SENDS  GREETING. 

Whereas  it  has  been  duly  certified  to  me  by  Jared 
Ingersoll  Esquire  Attorney  General  of  the  said  Common- 
wealth and  by  William  Tilghman  Chief  Justice,  and 
Jasper  Yeates  and  Hugh  H.  Breckenridge  Associate 
Justices  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Pennsylvania  that  they 
have  respectively  examined  the  above  Act  or  Instrument 
for  the  Incorporation  of  "The  English  Presbyterian 
Church  in  Germantown"  and  that  they  concur  in  opinion 
that  the  Objects,  Articles,  and  Conditions  therein  set 
forth  and  contained  are  Lawful  Now  Know  You  that 
in  pursuance  of  an  Act  of  the  General  Assembly  passed 


IN    GERMAXTOWX.  257 


the  Sixth  day  of  April  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  One  thou- 
sand Seven  hundred  and  ninetyone  entitled  "An  Act 
to  confer  on  certain  Associations  of  the  Citizens  of  this 
Commonwealth  the  Powers  and  Immimities  of  Corpora- 
tions or  Bodies  Politic  in  Law."  I  have  transmitted  the 
said  Act  or  Instrument  of  Incorporation  unto  you  the 
said  Nathaniel  B.  Boileau,  Secretary  as  aforesaid  hereby 
reqtiiring  you  to  enrol  the  same  at  the  expense  of  the 
applicants  to  the  intent  that  according  to  the  Objects, 
Articles,  and  Conditions  therein  set  forth  and  contained, 
the  parties  may  become  and  be  a  Corporation  or  Body 
Politic  in  Law  and  in  fact,  to  have  continuance  by  the 
Name,  Style,  and  Title  in  the  said  Instrument  provided 
and  declared. 

Simon  Snyder    Given  under  my  and  the  Great  Seal 
of  the  State  at  Harrisburg  this  twelfth  day  of  March 
A.  D.  One  thousand  eight  hundred  and  fourteen  and  of 
the  Commonwealth  the  Thirty  eighth. 
By  the  Governor 

W.  B.  Boileau  Secy 

W.  B.  Boileau,  Secy.     Secretary's  Office,  Harrisburg. 

March  12th,  1814. 
Enrolled  in  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Common- 
vs^ealth  in  Book  No.  1.  Page  379  containing  a  record 
incorporating  sundry  Religious,  Charitable,  and  Literary 
institutions.  Witness  my  hand  and  the  Lesser  Seal  of 
the  State  at  Harrisburg  the  day  and  year  aforesaid. 


258       THE  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH  IN  GERMANTOWN. 


AMENDMENT 

Your  Petitioners  pray  Your  Honors  that  the  following 
Amendment  be  made  in  the  First  Section  of  the  Fourth 
Article  of  the  said  Charter  so  that  the  same  hereafter 
shall  be  as  follows,  viz: 

Article  4.  Section  1st  "The  affairs  of  the  said 
Corporations  shall  be  managed  by  a  Board  of  Trustees 
consistini?  of  Ten  Members." 


THE  CHARTER 


OF     THE 


FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH 
IN   GERMANTOWN. 

1832. 


CONSTITUTION 

OF 

THE   FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 
IN   GERMANTOWN. 

Whereas  the  undersigned  Citizens  of  the  Common- 
wealth of  Pennsylvania  having  associated  together  as  a 
Church  and  Congregation  for  the  purpose  of  worshipping 
Almighty  God  and  being  desirous  of  acquiring  and 
enjoying  the  powers  and  immimities  of  a  Corporation 
or  Body  Politic  in  Law  do  declare  this  instrument  of 
writing  as  their  Constitution  Specifying  the  Objects, 
Articles,  Conditions,  and  Name,  Style,  or  Title  which 
they  have  associated: — 

Article  1. 

This  Corporation  shall  be  called  and  known  by  the 
Name,  Style  and  Title  of  ''The  First  Presbyterian  Church 
in  Germantown"  and  shall  be  under  the  care  of  the 
General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Chiu"ch  in  the 
United  States. 

Article  2. 

This  Corporation  shall  have  full  power  and  authority 
to  make  and  use  one  common  Seal  with  such  device  and 
inscription  as  they  may  deem  proper  and  the  same  to 
break,  alter,  renew  at  their  pleasure  and  by  the  Name, 
Style,  and  Title  aforesaid  shall  be  able  and  capable  in 

(261) 


262  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

Law  to  sue  and  be  sued  plead  and  be  impleaded  in  any 
Court  or  Courts,  before  any  Judge  or  Judges,  Justice  or 
Justices,  in  all  manner  of  Suit,  Complaints,  Pleas,  Causes, 
Matters  and  Demands  whatsoever  and  all  and  every 
Matter  and  thing  therein  to  do  in  as  full  and  effectual  a 
manner  as  any  other  person  or  persons,  Bodies  Politic 
and  Corporate  within  the  said  Commonwealth  may  or 
can  do  and  shall  be  authorized  and  empowered  to  make 
inles,  Bye  Laws  and  Ordinances  and  to  do  everything 
needfull  for  the  good  government  and  Support  of  the 
affairs  of  the  said  Congregation,  Provided  always  that 
the  said  Bye  Laws,  Rules  and  Ordinances  or  any  of 
them  be  not  repugnant  to  the  Constitution  and  Laws 
of  the  United  States  to  the  Constitution  and  Laws  of 
this  Commonwealth  or  to  this  Instrument. 

Article  3. 

The  said  Corporation  by  the  name.  Style,  and  Title 
aforesaid  shall  be  able  and  capable  in  Law  according  to 
the  terms  and  Conditions  of  this  instrument  to  take, 
receive,  and  hold  all  and  all  manner  of  Lands,  Tene- 
ments rents,  Annuities,  Franchises,  and  Hereditaments, 
and  sum  or  sums  of  money,  and  any  manner  and  portion 
of  Goods  and  Chattels,  given  and  bequeathed  imto  them 
to  be  employed  and  disposed  of  according  to  the  Objects 
Articles,  and  Conditions  of  this  Instrument,  or  according 
to  the  Bye  Laws  of  this  Corporation  or  of  the  will  and 


IN    GERMAXTOWX.  263 


intention  of  the  Donors  Provided  that  the  clear  yearly 
value  or  income  of  the  Messuages,  Houses,  Lands,  and 
Tenements,  Rents,  Annuities,  or  other  Hereditaments 
and  Real  Estate  of  the  said  Corporation  and  the  Interest 
of  money  by  them  lent  shall  not  exceed  the  sum  of  Five 
hundred  pounds. 

Article  4. 

Section  1st.  The  affairs  of  the  said  Corporation  shall 
be  managed  by  a  Board  of  Trustees  consisting  of  seven 
members — viz  in  the  first  place  and  tmtil  others  are 
duly  elected  as  hereinafter  mentioned  Jacob  Ritten- 
house,  John  Schaeffer,  John  Boardman,  Matthias  R. 
Miller,  John  Bruner,  Peter  Bechtel  and  Jacob  Whartenby. 

Section  2nd.  The  said  Corporation  shall  hold  an 
annual  election  on  the  first  Monday  in  July  in  ever>^ 
year  (whereof  notice  shall  be  given  from  the  pulpit 
at  least  two  sabbaths  previous)  for  the  purpose  of  elect- 
ing by  ballot  trustees  to  serve  for  one  year,  and  if  from 
any  cause  an  election  shall  be  held  on  that  day  then  an 
election  shall  be  held  as  soon  as  conveniently  may  be 
afterwards  (two  weeks  notice  thereof  being  given  from 
the  pulpit)  and  the  Trustees  already  in  office  shall  con- 
tinue to  be  so  until  successors  shall  be  duly  elected. 

Section  3rd.  In  case  any  vacancy  shall  happen  in 
the  said  Board  of  Trustees  by  Death,  Resignation, 
Refusal  to  serv^e  or  otherwise,  an  election  shall  be  held 


264  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

as  soon  as  may  be  thereafter  (whereof  notice  shall  be 
given  as  aforesaid)  to  supply  such  vacancy  and  the  per- 
son or  persons  elected  shall  continue  in  office  until  the 
next  general  election. 

Section  4th.  All  persons  worshipping  at  the  said 
Church  and  Contributing  to  the  support  of  the  Pastor 
or  the  expenses  of  the  Church  shall  be  entitled  to  vote 
at  election  for  Pastors  and  Trustees. 

Article  5. 

The  Board  of  Trustees  shall  hold  four  stated  meetings, 
to  say,  on  the  first  Monday  of  the  months  of  January, 
April,  July  and  October  in  every  year  and  adjourned  and 
Special  Meetings  from  time  to  time  as  they  may  think 
proper  of  which  Meetings  whether  stated  or  special  the 
Secretary  of  the  Board  shall  give  to  the  members  notice 
in  writing  at  least  three  days  previously  and  shall  have 
authority  at  the  first  or  any  other  subsequent  meeting 
after  the  election  to  choose  by  Ballot  by  a  majority 
of  votes  out  of  their  Body  a  President,  Treasurer,  and 
Secretary  who  shall  perform  such  duties  as  are  implied 
in  the  names  of  their  respective  appointments  whom 
they  shall  have  power  to  remove  or  continue  as  they  or 
a  majority  of  them  at  a  stated  meeting  shall  deem  most 
for  the  benefit  of  the  Corporation,  Provided  however 
that  it  shall  require  at  least  Four  Members  of  the  Board 
to  form  a  Quorum. 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  265 


Article  6. 

The  said  Board  of  Trustees  shall  be  vested  with  the 
whole  property  of  the  Corporation,  Real,  Personal,  and 
mixed,  and  it  shall  be  their  duty  to  collect  and  receive 
publick  collections  and  Church  dues,  keep  the  House 
of  Worship  in  good  repair  fix  and  pay  the  salary  of  the 
Pastor,  Clerk  and  Sexton  and  generally  to  transact  the 
temporal  affairs  of  the  said  Corporation  as  shall  be  ad- 
vantageous and  consistent  with  Christian  Obligation 
and  Honour  and  also  to  pass  such  rules  and  ordinances 
for  the  purposes  aforesaid  as  may  be  necessary  and  proper 
and  keep  fair  Books  of  all  their  proceedings  and  accounts 
of  all  the  monies  received  and  expended  by  them  and 
shall  produce  a  full  statement  of  all  their  accounts  and 
lay  the  same  before  the  members  of  this  Congregation 
at  every  annual  meeting  with  all  the  receipts  and  vouch- 
ers accompanying  the  same  for  their  perusal  and  exam- 
ination. 

John  Schaeffer  Thomas  Pollock 

Charles  F.  McCay  Jacob  Wartenby 

Peter  Bechtel,  Jr.  John  Bruner 

Stephen  Boisbrun  Daniel  Forton 

Jno.  S.  Henry  Jacob  Rittenhouse 

Mathias  R.  Miller  John  Boardman 

I  Certify  that  I  have  perused  and  examined  the  afore- 
going instrument  and  am  of  opinion  that  the  Objects, 
Articles,  and  Conditions  therein  set  forth  and  contained 


266  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 


are  Lawful — Given  under  my  hand  at  Harrisburg  the 
twenty  seventh  day  of  February,  Anno  Domini  one 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  thirty  two,  Samuel  Douglas, 
Attorney  General  of  Pennsylvania. 

We  the  subscribers  Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court  of 
the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania  Do  Certify  to  his 
Excellency  the  Governor  of  this  Commonwealth  that 
we  have  perused  and  examined  the  above  instrument 
and  concur  with  Samuel  Douglas  Esquire  Attorney 
General  of  the  State  in  his  opinion  that  the  objects,  Arti- 
cles, and  Conditions  therein  set  forth  and  contained  are 
Lawful. 

John  B.  Gibson 
MoLTON  C.  Rogers. 
Charles  Huston 
Jno.  Kennedy. 

PENNSYLVANIA  In  the  name  and  by  the  author- 
ity of  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania  George  Wolf, 
Governor  of  the  said  Commonwealth  to  Samuel  Mc- 
Kean  Secretary  of  the  said  Commonwealth  SENDS 
GREETING. 

Whereas  it  has  been  duly  Certified  to  me  by  Samuel 
Douglas  Esquire  Attorney  General  of  the  said  Common- 
wealth and  John  B.  Gibson  Chief  Justice  Molton  C. 
Rogers,  Charles  Huston  and  Jno.  Kennedy,  Associate 
Justices  of  the  Supreme  Courts  of   Pennsylvania  that 


N    GERMANTOWN.  267 


they  have  respectively  examined  the  above  Act  or 
Instrument  for  the  Incorporation  of  The  First  Presbyte- 
rian Church  in  Germantown  atnd  that  they  concur  in 
opinion  that  the  Objects,  Articles  and  Conditions  therein 
set  forth  and  Contained  are  Lawful,  Now  know  you  that 
in  pursuance  of  an  Act  of  the  General  Assembly  passed 
the  sixth  day  of  April  Ao  Di  one  thousand  seven  hundred 
ninety  one  entitled  "An  Act  to  confer  on  certain  asso- 
ciations of  the  Citizens  of  this  Commonwealth  the  power 
and  Immimities  of  Corporation  or  Bodies  Politic  in  Law" 
I  have  transmitted  the  said  Act  or  Instrument  of  Incor- 
poration imto  you  the  said  Samuel  McKean  Secretary 
as  aforesaid  hereby  requiring  you  to  enrol  the  same  at 
the  expense  of  the  applicants  to  the  intent  that  according 
to  the  Objects,  Articles,  and  Conditions  therein  set  forth 
and  contained  the  parties  may  become  and  be  a  Corpora* 
tion  or  Body  Politic  in  Law  and  in  fact,  to  have  con- 
tinuance by  the  name.  Style,  and  Title  in  the  said  Instru- 
ment provided  and  declared. 

Given  under  my  hand  and  the  Great  Seal 
of  the  State  at  Harrisburg  this  twelfth  day 
of  June  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thou- 
sand eight  hundred  and  thirty  two  and  of 
the  Commonwealth  the  fifty  sixth. 

By  the  Governor 

Samt.  M.  McKean, 

Secy,  Comth. 


268  the  first  presbyterian  church 

Commonwealth      of      Pennsylvania,      Secretary's 
Office. 

Enrolled  in  Charter  Book  No.  5,  Page  8,  containing  a 
record  of  Acts  incorporating  sundry,  literary,  charitable 
and  religious  institutions. 

Witness  my  hand  and  the  less  Seal  of 
the  State  at  Harrisburg  this  twelfth  day 
of  June  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  thirty  two, 
and  of  the  Commonwealth  the  fifty  sixth. 

Saml.  McKean. 


AMENDMENTS. 

Your  Petitioners  pray  your  Honorable  Court  that  the 
following  amendments  be  made  to  their  Charter,  viz : — In 
Article  4,  section  2  substitute  for  the  words  *'  first  Monday 
in  July"  the  words  "second  Wednesday  in  April,"  so 
that  that  the  section  thus  amended  will  read  "The  said 
Corporation  shall  hold  an  annual  election  on  the  second 
Wednesday  in  April  in  every  year,  whereof  notice  shall 
be  given  from  the  pulpit  at  least  two  Sabbaths  previous 
for  the  purpose  of  electing  by  ballot  Trustees  to  serve 
for  one  year;  and  if  from  any  cause,  an  election  shall 
not  be  held  on  that  day  then  an  election  shall  be  held 
as  soon  as  conveniently  may  be  afterwards  (two  weeks 
notice  thereof  being  from  the  pulpit)  and  the  Trustees 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  269 


already  in  office  shall  continue  so  to  be  until  successors 
shall  be  duly  elected." 

In  Article  4,  strike  out  the  whole  of  section  three 
and  insert  instead  thereof,  the  words  "The  Board  of 
Trustees  shall  have  power  to  fill  any  vacancy  or  vacancies 
in  their  number  that  may  occur  between  annual  elec- 
tions." 

In  Article  6,  that  the  wording  be  changed,  so  as  to 
read  as  follows:  "Article  6,  section  1 — The  said  Board 
of  Trustees  shall  be  vested  with  the  whole  property  of 
the  Corporation,  real,  personal,  and  mixed;  it  shall  be 
their  duty  to  make  and  receive  all  public  collections  and 
church  dues ;  keep  the  House  of  Worship  in  good  repair ; 
fix  and  pay  the  salary  of  the  Pastor,  Clerk,  and  Sexton, 
and,  generally  to  manage  the  temporal  affairs  of  the  said 
Corporation,  Provided  however,  in  no  case  shall  they 
incur  an  indebtedness  exceeding  the  sum  of  Two  thou- 
sand dollars,  without  the  previous  consent  of  the  Cor- 
poration." 

"Section  2. — ^The  Trustees  shall  have  power  to  adopt, 
revise,  alter  and  amend  all  needed  rules  and  ordinances 
for  the  purposes  aforesaid." 

"Section  3. — Said  Trustees  shall  keep  just  and  true 
records  of  all  their  proceedings,  together  with  accoiuits 
of  all  money  received  and  disbursed  by  them;  and  they 
shall  lay  a  full  statement  of  all  their  accounts  before  the 
members  of  the  Corporation  at  every  annual  meeting 
thereof." 


270  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

LIST  OF  MEMBERS 

OF    THE 

FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

IN 

GERMANTOWN,  PHILADELPHIA. 

DATE 

OF  •; 

ADMISSION  NAME  ADDRESS  >• 

1908.  Ackroyd,  Mrs.  Priscilla 2154  Nedro  St. 

1878.  Adam,  Mrs.  John 300  Bringhurst  St. 

1880.  Adam,  Matthew 300  Bringhurst  St. 

1894.  Adam,  John,  Jr 5323  Lena  St. 

1881.  Adams,  Mrs.  M.  Barnett 116  Maplewood  Ave. 

1908.  Adams,  Dr.  Walter  Barnett 116  Maplewood  Ave. 

1899.  Adams,  Lorenzo  J Lester,  Delaware  Covmty,  Pa. 

1899.  Adams,  Mrs.  Lorenzo  J Lester,  Delaware  County,  Pa. 

1902.  Adams,  James  B 611  E.  Chelten  Ave. 

1902.  Adams,  Walker  J 611  E.  Chelten  Ave. 

1905.  Adams,  William  Seymour 611  E.  Chelten  Ave. 

1905.  Adams,  Joseph  Francis 611  E.  Chelten  Ave. 

1908.  Alder,  Eugene  Charles 5213  Archer  St. 

1902.  Allen,  James  J 6318  Burbridge  St. 

1902.  Allen,  Mrs.  James  J 6318  Burbridge  St. 

1892.  Allison,  Mrs.  Richard Medary  Ave.  and   Beechwood  St. 

1906.  Allison,  Ethel  C Medary  Ave.  and  Beechwood  St. 

1892.  Allison,  Henry England. 

1892.  Allison,  Mrs.  Henry England. 

1901.  Allison,  Thomas 1602  Chancellor  St. 

1896.  Allison,  John  DeR Boma,  Congo  Free  State, W.C.Africa. 

1887.  Allison,  Mrs.  John  DeR Boma,  Congo  Free  State, W.C.Africa. 

1886.  Amies,  Mrs.  William Torresdale,  Pa. 

1901.  Anderson,  Eugene  H 5305  Germantown  Ave. 

1901.  Anderson,  Mrs.  Eugene  H 5305  Germantown  Ave. 

1909.  Andrus,  Dr.  Walter 5913  Greene  St. 

1907.  Anthony,  Elsie  Hall 5656  Boyer  St. 

1904.  Archibald,  Robert Haines  and  Chew  Sts. 

1905.  Armbruster,  Mrs.  J.  L 6967  Musgrove  St. 

1906.  Atmore,  Emily  M 6041  Norwood  St. 

1873.  Axford,  Mrs.  John 343  E.  Chelten  Ave. 

1894.  Axford,  William 343  E.  Chelten  Ave. 

1894.  Axford,  Edward 6120  Ross  St. 

1902.  Bacheller,  Bimey  C Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  271 


DATE 
OF 
ADMISSION  NAME  ADDRESS 

1890.  Bachellor,  Mary 5648  Chew  St. 

1891.  Bacon,  Mrs.  Albert  E 5136  Newhall  St. 

1886.   Bader,  Leona 127  W.  Gorgas  Lane. 

1893.   Bains,  Mrs.  Geo.  B 457  Hansberry  St. 

1899.   Baldwin,  Ada 5614  Boyer  St. 

1899.   Baldwin,  Louise 5614  Boyer  St. 

1905.  Baldwin,  Isabel  Thelma 5614  Boyer  St. 

1906.  Baldwin,  James  K 5614  Boyer  St. 

1908.  Balfour,  Alexander 233  E.  Penn  St. 

1881.   Ballantyne,  Alexander 34  W.  Duval  St. 

1879.   Ballantyne,  Mrs.  Alexander 34  W.  Duval  St. 

1888.   Ballantyne,  Mrs.  Walter 34  W.  Duval  St. 

1908.   Banks,  Mrs.  Mary  G 134  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1908.  Banks,  Jennie  C 134  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1905.  Barbour,  James  D 28  E.  Seymour  St. 

1905.   Barbour,  Mrs.  James  D 28  E.  Seymour  St. 

1902.  Barker,  James 827  Woodlawn  Ave. 

1898.  Barnes,  Charles  H 423  E.  Haines  St. 

1888.  Barnes,  Mrs.  Charles  H 423  E.  Haines  St. 

1909.  Barnes,  Sara  K 423  E.  Haines  St. 

1899.  Barnes,  Howard  L 126  Pleasant  St. 

1890.  Barclay,  Rebecca 5807  Germantown  Ave. 

1884.  Barry,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 52  W.  Penn  St. 

1892.  Barry,  John 52  W.  Penn  St. 

1903.  Barton,  Dr.  Clyde  Edwin 151  W.  Coulter  St. 

1903.  Barton,  Mrs.  Clyde  Edwin 151  W.  Coulter  St. 

1908.  Barton,  George  W 73  E.  Haines  St. 

1908.  Barton,  Mrs.  George  W 73  E.  Haines  St. 

1890.  Baylis,  Mrs.  Charles  E 5541  Chew  St. 

1888.  Beach,  Charles Atlantic  City. 

1870.  Beach,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  D Atlantic  City. 

1901.  Bean,  Mrs.  William  Perry 2912  N.  Franklin  St. 

1905.   Beatty,  J.  Henry 172  Maplewood  Ave. 

1905.   Beatty,  Mrs.  J.  Henry 172  Maplewood  Ave. 

1902.  Beatty,  Mary  Mays 172  Maplewood  Ave. 

1902.  Beatty,  Frances  A 172  Maplewood  Ave. 

1902.  Beatty,  Emily  A 172  Maplewood  Ave. 

1903.  Beatty,  Reading  K 172  Maplewood  Ave. 

1904.  Beatty,  Charles  Henry 172  Maplewood  Ave. 

1908.  Beck,  George  H 4845  Pulaski  Ave. 

1908.  Beck,  Mrs.  George  H 4845  Pulaski  Ave. 

1898.  Bedford,  William 5325  Germantown  Ave. 

1898.  Bedford,  Mrs.  William 5325  Germantown  Ave. 

1899.  Beesley,  Mrs.  Bartholomew  W 28  W.  Coulter  St. 

1898.  Belville,  J.  Edgar,  M.D 5915  Greene  St. 

1901.  Belville,  Caroline  E 19  W.  Walnut  Lane. 


272  THE    FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 


DATS 
OF 
ADUISSION  NAME  ADDRESS 

1901.  Belville,  Mary  G 19  W.  Walnut  Lane. 

1908.  Banner,  Henry  George,  Jr 6660  Musgrove  St. 

1899.  Benner,  Mrs.  Henry  George,  Jr. .  .  .  6660  Musgrove  St. 

1885.  Benson,  Mrs.  Robert  J 6029  Beechwood  St. 

1896.  Benson,  Mary  E 6029  Beechwood  St. 

1885.  Bemhard,  Mrs.  Sarah  E 579  E.  Haines  St. 

1895.  Bemhard,  Margaret 579  E.  Haines  St. 

1899.  Bemhard,  William  M 145  E.  Walnut  Lane. 

1901.  Bemhard,  Mrs.  William  M 145  E.  Walnut  Lane. 

1905.  Bevan,  Elizabeth 226  Springer  St. 

1880.  Bickley,  Mrs.  Robert 404  E.  Walnut  Lane. 

1903.  Bingham,  Mary  V Moreland  Ave.  &  Huron  St.,  Ch.  Hill. 

1890.  Birch,  William  Elwood 256  Armat  St. 

1888.  Birch,  Mrs.  William  Elwood 256  Armat  St. 

1904.  Bishop,  Mrs.  Alfred  S 72  E.  Walnut  Lane. 

1895.   Bitters,  Howard  M 404  School  Lane. 

1895.  Bitters,  Mrs.  Howard  M 404  School  Lane. 

1902.  Bitters,  Jessie  May 404  School  Lane. 

1888.  Black,  James  Simpson 442  E.  Haines  St. 

1890.  Black,  Mrs.  James  Simpson 442  E.  Haines  St. 

1904.  Blackwood,  James  D 5346  Wayne  Ave. 

1904.  Blackwood,  Mrs.  James  D 5346  Wayne  Ave. 

1904.  Blackwood,  Dr.  J.  Douglas 5346  Wayne  Ave. 

1901.  Blair,  Robert Woodlawn  and  Bloyd  Sts. 

1901.  Blair,  Mrs.  Robert Woodlawn  and  Bloyd  Sts. 

1881.  Bockius,  Jacob  C 44  W.  Coulter  St. 

1881.  Bockius,  Mrs.  Jacob  C 44  W.  Coulter  St. 

1898.  Bockius,  Mrs.  Mary  J 340  Wister  St. 

1900.  Bodle,  Dr.  E.  Schuyler 134  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1900.  Bodle,  Mrs.  Byron  B 242  Winona  Ave. 

1894.  Boggs,  Nettie  Palmer 

1889.  Boileau,  Mrs.  Isabel  B North  Wales,  Pa. 

1905.  Bolton,  Mrs.  Rose  Evelyn Locust  Ave.  and  Bloyd  St. 

1893.  Borden,  Dr.  Walter  A 1122  Walnut  St. 

1893.  Borden,  Mrs.  Walter  A 1122  Walnut  St. 

1908.  Borden,  Majorie  Van  Horn 6825  Cresheim  Road. 

1876.  Bosworth,  Mrs.  Jane 272  Ashmead  St. 

1898.  Bowles,  Elizabeth 6035  Stenton  Ave. 

1903.  Boyd,  Samuel  W.  C 260  Queen  Lane. 

1903.  Brackett,  Mrs.  Wilbur  F 122  E.  Duval  St. 

1885.  Bramwell,  Walter 5017  N.  Sixth  St. 

1877.  Brear,  Mrs.  Isabella  A 105  W.  Seymour  St. 

1906.  Brewster,  Walter  A 159  Harvey  St. 

1906.  Brewster,  Mrs.  Walter  A 159  Harvey  St. 

1905.  Brey,  Mrs.  Caroline 168  School  Lane. 

1908.  Briggs,  Mrs.  Keturah 80  E.  Walnut  Lane. 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  273 


DATE 
OP 
ADMISSION  NAME  ADDRESS 

1882.  Britton,  Mrs.  Frank 60  E.  Coulter  St. 

1908.  Britton,  Norma  L 60  E.  Coulter  St. 

1901.   Bronson,  Mrs.  James  E 42  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1904.  Brook,  Mrs.  H.  J Medary  St.  and  Stenton  Ave. 

1906.  Brook,  Thomas  William Medary  St.  and  Stenton  Ave. 

1887.   Brooker,  Mrs.  Irene  Yost 115  E.  Washington  Lane. 

1894.  Brookley,  Mrs.  Charles Earlham  Terrace. 

1904.  Brookley,  Mary  S Earlham  Terrace. 

1906.  Brooks,  William  T 6115  Norwood  St. 

1906.   Brooks,  Wilfred England. 

1898.  Brown,  Isabella 41  W.  Upsal  St. 

1898.  Brown,  Barbara 41  W.  Upsal  St. 

1898.   Brown,  Margaret 41  W.  Upsal  St. 

1898.  Brown,  Anna  R 41  W.  Upsal  St. 

1891.   Brown,  Mrs.  William  Henry 35  E.  Haines  St. 

1904.  Brown,  Laura  Ellis Stenton  Ave. 

1908.  Brown,  Dr.  Wistar  P 42  Queen  St. 

1908.  Brown,  Mrs.  Wistar  P 42  Queen  St. 

1891.  Bruce,  William  Horace 5211  Wayne  Ave. 

1887.  Buchanan,  Jennie  Smith 20  Gowen  Ave.,  Mt.  Airy. 

1909.  Buggey,  William 6109  Stenton  Ave. 

1899.  Buggey,  Mrs.  William 6109  Stenton  Ave. 

1908.  Burbage,  Mrs.  D.  P 623  Locust  Ave. 

1908.  Burbage,  Minne  D 623  Locust  Ave. 

1900.  Burgess,  Mrs.  Estelle  S 164  Maplewood  Ave. 

1908.  Bums,  Susan 705  Church  Lane. 

1906.  Butler,  Dorsey 1325  Girard  Ave. 

1906.  Butler,  Mrs.  Dorsey 1325  Girard  Ave. 

1896.  Buzby,  Mrs.  Louisa 7432  Devon  St.,  Mt.  Airy. 

1876.  Cairns,  Mrs.  James  G 219  Tabor  Road,  Olney. 

1894.  Callanan,  Mrs.  George  D N.  Darien  St. 

1899.  Cameron,  Christine  H Taiku,  Korea. 

1874.  Campbell,  Mrs.  Archibald 416  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1880.  Campbell,  Arthur  W 416  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1875.  Campbell,  Laura  H 416  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1875.  Campbell,  A.  Elisabeth 416  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1889.  Campion,  Mrs.  Herbert  G 117  Gorgas  Lane. 

1895.  Cannon,  William  R 49  E.  Bringhurst  St. 

1895.  Cannon,  Mrs.  William  R 49  E.  Bringhurst  St. 

1901.  Cannon,  Mary  Moland 49  E.  Bringhurst  St. 

1904.  Cannon,  William  Henry 49  E.  Bringhurst  St. 

1904.  Cannon,  James  Crawford, 49  E.  Bringhurst  St. 

1891.  Carbutt,  Mrs.  John Oxford,  S.  C 

1892.  Carbutt,  May Oxford,  S.  C. 

1892.  Carbutt,  Florence Oxford,  S.  C. 

1905.  Carbutt,  Robert  F Oxford,  S.  C. 


274 


THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 


DATE 
OF 
ADMISSION  NAME  ADDRESS 

1898.  Carbutt,  John  E 5018  Greene  St. 

1898.  Carbutt,  Mrs.  John  E 5018  Greene  St. 

1903.  Carlisle,  John  H Mt.  Airy.  i 

1907.  Carlisle,  Mrs.  Olivia Logan  St.,  cor.  Gennantown  Ave. 

1887.  Carpenter,  Mrs.  Catherine  T 121  Maplewood  Ave. 

1887.  Carpenter,  Alice  T 121  Maplewood  Ave. 

1891.  Carson,  Mrs.  Robert  D 419  W.  Rittenhouse  St. 

1907.  Carson,  Helen  Graham 419  W.  Rittenhouse  St. 

1888.  Carson,  Susan  Waugh 182  Maplewood  Ave. 

1893.  Carson,  Thomas  Duncan 182  Maplewood  Ave. 

1887.  Carson,  Mrs.  Thomas  Dimcan 182  Maplewood  Ave. 

1900.  Carter,  Mrs.  Jacob  G 20  E.  Walnut  Lane. 

1900.  Carter,  Emma  T 20  E.  Walnut  Lane. 

1899.  Gathers,  Mrs.  Charles  W 6035  Magnolia  Ave. 

1889.  Chaffee,  Gertrude 232  E.  Price  St. 

1908.  Chaffee,  Lydia  M 232  E.  Price  St. 

1897.  Chapman,  Edwin  H 122  W.  Washington  Lane. 

1908.  Chapman,  Mrs.  Edwin  H 122  W.  Washington  Lane. 

1898.  Chapman,  Harry  0 312  W.  Duval  St. 

1898.  Chapman,  Mrs.  Harry  O 312  W.  Duval  St. 

1898.  Chapman,  Elizabeth  M 312  W.  Duval  St. 

1895.  Christine,  Flora  E Wakefield  St.  above  Coulter. 

1904.  Claflin,  Mrs.  Elmira  D 161  Hansberry  St. 

1904.  Claflin,  Louise  S 161  Hansberry  St. 

1904.  Claflin,  Alice  E 161  Hansberry  St. 

1905.  Clark,  William  James 24  S.  Church  St.,  Doylestown,  Pa. 

1903.  Clark,  Mrs.  William  James 24  S.  Church  St.,  Doylestown,  Pa. 

1894.  Clarke,  Katharine  M 5321  Knox  St. 

1908.  Clayton,  Mrs.  Sarah  Jane 6261  Stenton  Ave. 

1894.  Clough,  Mary The  St.  James. 

1901.  Clough,  Gertrude  E 213  E.  Sedgwick  St. 

1906.  Glutton,  Hannah  E 972  Locust  Ave. 

1900.  Cochran,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 165  E.  Walnut  Lane. 

1895.  Collins,  William  C 121  E.  Mt.  Pleasant  Ave. 

1895.  Collins,  Mrs.  William  C 121  E.  Mt.  Pleasant  Ave. 

1899.  ColHson;  Hallowell  D West  Creek,  N.  J. 

1889.  Cond6,  Charles  A. 44  E.  Walnut  Lane. 

1889.  Cond^,  Mrs.  Charles  A 44  E.  Walnut  Lane. 

1907.  Connelly,  Lois 130  W.  Duval  St. 

1905.  Conrad,  Mrs.  M.  W 32  E.  Coulter  St. 

1906.  Cookman,  Earl  C 335  W.  School  Lane. 

1876.  Cooley,  Thomas 5680  Morton  St. 

1874.  Cooley,  Mrs.  Thomas 5680  Morton  St. 

1875.  Cooley,  Clara  L 5680  Morton  St. 

1895.  Cooley,  Millicent  M 5680  Morton  St. 

1907.  Cooper,  Milton  C 153  W.  Washington  Lane. 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  275 


DATE 
OF 
ADMISSION  NAME  ADDRESS 

1907.  Cooper,  Mrs.  Milton  C 153  W.  Washington  Lane. 

1872.  Coulston,  Kate 21  E.  Price  St. 

1909.  Courtney,  Helen  May 5516  Boyd  St. 

1895.  Cowan,  Sarah  J 

1878.  Craven,  Emma 417  W.  School  Lane. 

1896.  Cressman,  Newton  F 140  Phil-Ellena  St. 

1902.  Crocker,  Frederic  J Oak  Lane  and  York  Road. 

1899.  Crocker,  Mrs.  Wm.  B 3  Ware  St.,  Boston. 

1883,  Croft,  Mrs.  Jacob  R 5216  Knox  St. 

1883.  Croft,  Ida  M 5216  Knox  St. 

1889.  Croft,  Alice 5216  Knox  St. 

1901.  Cromwell,  Mrs.  James 1513  Girard  Ave. 

1887.   Cronin,  Mrs.  Charles  I. . . . 78  E.  Stewart  Ave.,  Lansdowne,  Pa. 

1900.  Crowell,  Mrs.  Wilmer  G 3820  Spruce  St. 

1887.  Crowther,  Frank 443  Wister  St. 

1894.  Crowther,  Mrs.  Frank 443  Wister  St. 

1883.  Culbertson,  Jane 5029  Keyser  St. 

1888.  Curry,  Robert 56  Nippon  St. 

1890.  Cutler,  Edward  C 230  School  Lane. 

1890.  Cutler,  Mrs.  Edward  C 230  School  Lane. 

1904.  Cutler,  Frances  Amelia 230  School  Lane. 

1905.  Cutler,  James  Benjamin 230  School  Lane. 

1891.  Dallas,  Margaret  J 168  Herman  St. 

1879.  Dalton,  Mrs.  James,  Jr 3446  N.  Twenty-third  St. 

1906.  Datesman,  Florence  L 5349  Wayne  Ave. 

1908.  Davenport,  Mrs.  Martha 6150  Lambert  St. 

1892.  David,  Edward  M 226  E.  Penn  St. 

1892.  David,  Mrs.  Edward  M 226  E.  Penn  St. 

1904.  David,  William  Morris 226  E.  Penn  St. 

1905.  David,  Anna  Knight 226  E.  Penn  St. 

1906.  David,  Edward  Wandell 226  E.  Penn  St. 

1902.  David,  James  O 321  E.  Walnut  Lane. 

1902.  David,  Mrs.  James  O 321  E.  Walnut  Lane. 

1905.  David,  Dorothy 321  E.  Walnut  Lane. 

1902.  Davidyan,  Nathaniel  K Moorestown,  N.  J. 

1899.  Davies,  Robert  A 139  E.  Walnut  Lane. 

1899.  Davies,  Mrs.  Robert  A 139  E.  Walnut  Lane. 

1903.  Davis,  Charles  C 1133  Arrott  St.,  Frankford. 

1906.  Davis,  Mrs.  Charles  C 1133  Arrott  St.,  Frankford. 

1892.  Davis,  Mamie  C 432  W.  Woodlawn  Ave. 

1901.  Davis,  William  E 5636  Utah  St. 

1901.  Davis,  Mrs.  William  E 5636  Utah  St. 

1904.  Davis,  Mrs.  Katherine  M 400  W.  Stafford'^St. 

1907.  Davis,  John  Barry 52  W.  Penn  St.  ' 

1908.  Davis,  Charles  H 6101  Stenton  Ave. 

1894.  Davison,  Florence  May Colorado  Springs,  Colo. 


276  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 


DATE 
OF 
ADMISSION  NAME  ADDRESS 

1898.  Davison,  Mrs.  William  M 232  W.  Willow  Grove  Ave. 

1904.  Davison,  William  M.,  Jr 30  Pelham  Road. 

1904.  Davison,  Mrs.  William  M,,  Jr 30  Pelham  Road. 

1908.  Day,  Mrs.  Ella  T 5542  Devon  St. 

1886.  Dearlove,  Mrs.  Henry  H 69  Ashmead  St. 

1907.  Decker,  Mrs.  Annie Somerville  Ave.,  Olney. 

1905.  Decker,  Clara Somerville  Ave.,  Olney. 

1907.  Decker,  Marie Somerville  Ave.,  Olney. 

1907.  DeLong,  Dr.  Percy Hamburg,  Pa. 

1897.  Denham,  Arthur 119  Gorgas  Lane,  Mt.  Airy. 

1897.  Denham,  Mrs.  Arthur 119  Gorgas  Lane,  Mt.  Airy. 

1893.  Denise,  Mabel  W 271  W.  Haines  St. 

1871.  Dennisson,  Samuel  G 5530  Greene  St. 

1871.  Dennisson,  Mrs.  Samuel  G 5530  Greene  St. 

1908.  Denniston,  Paul  H 238  Winona  Ave. 

1908.  Denniston,  Mrs.  Paul  H 238  Winona  Ave. 

1871.  Dingas,  Sarah  C 146  E.  Duval  St. 

1900.  Dinsmore,  Mrs.  E.  W 412  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1901.  Doane,  Joseph  A 

1909.  Dobbin,  William 222  W.  Haines  St. 

1881.  Doherty,  Mrs.  John 5725  Knox  St. 

1883.  Doherty,  Edward  G 5911  McCallum  St. 

1883.  Doherty,  Mrs.  Edward  G 5911  McCallum  St. 

1907.  Doherty,  Bessie  Morris 5911  McCallum  St. 

1908.  Doherty,  William  A 591 1  McCallum  St. 

1905.  Doriss,  Howard 37  W.  Upsal  St. 

1862.  Dougherty,  James 40  E.  Coulter  St. 

1902.  Dougherty,  Mrs.  Richard  I 

1902.  Dubree,  Mrs.  John  Henry 1721  Dounton  St. 

1905.  Dudgeon,  Mrs.  Agnes  R 5215  Knox  St. 

1881.  Duffield,  Mary  C 141  W.  School  Lane. 

1881.  Duffield,  Anna 141  W.  School  Lane. 

1888.  Dimcan,  Mrs.  Samuel 5735  Knox  St. 

1881.  Dungan,  Florence Rahway,  N.  J. 

1893.  Dtmkerly,  Joseph  W Bloomfield,  Neb. 

1888.  Dunkerly,  Mrs.  Joseph  W 6159  Lambert  St. 

1899.  Dunkerly,  Edith 6159  Lambert  St. 

1894.  Dunkerly,  Nellie 6159  Lambert  St. 

1904.  Dunkerly,  Miller 6159  Lambert  St. 

1905.  Dunkerly,  Louise  Schofield 6159  Lambert  St. 

1885.  Dunlop,  Mrs.  Charles 115  E.  Phil-Ellena  St. 

1895.  Dunn,  Robert  D 6328  Norwood  Ave. 

1895.  Dvmn,  Mrs.  Thomas  J 256  Apsley  St. 

1907.  Dwyer,  Anna 3317  N.  Eleventh  St. 

1900.  Dyson,  Mrs.  Richard  F 5120  Lena  St.. 

1879.  Edwards,  John 335  Church  Lane. 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  277 


DATE 
OP 
ADMISSION  NAME  ADDRESS 

1880.  Edwards,  Mrs.  John 335  Church  Lane. 

1879.  Edwards,  Margaret, 335  Church  Lane. 

1894.  Edwards,  Hugh  M 2132  Wallace  St. 

1894.  Edwards,  Thomas 53  E.  Haines  St. 

1906.  Edwards,  Earl  S 5514  Morris  St. 

1906.  Edwards,  Mrs.  Earl  S 5514  Morris  St. 

1908.  Egner,  Lucy  Anthrum 5542  Devon  St. 

1909.  Egner,  Harry 5542  Devon  St. 

1881.  Ekron,  Annie  J 77  E.  Coulter  St. 

1898.  Elliott,  Edith 5156  Pulaski  Ave. 

1898.  Elliott,  Gertrude  S 5156  Pulaski  Ave. 

1901.  Emmes,  Thomas  M 246  E.  Haines  St. 

1894.  Emmes,  Mrs.  Thomas  M 246  E.  Haines  St. 

1888.  Enderiy,  William 225  Church  Lane. 

1906.  Erdman,  Mrs.  W.  J 5511  Morris  St. 

1906.  Erdman,  Frederick 5511  Morris  St. 

1907.  Ernst,  Mrs.  George  H 6208  Clearview  Ave. 

1894.  Etchells,  Elwood  W 6317  Beechwood  St. 

1890.  Etchells,  Mrs.  Elwood  W 6317  Beechwood  St. 

1907.  Etherington,  Burton  H 441  Hansberry  St. 

1907.  Etherington,  Mrs.  Burton  H 441  Hansberry  St. 

1902.  Evans,  Edward  A 5138  Keyser  St. 

1907.  Evans,  Mrs.  Edward  A 5138  Keyser  St. 

1908.  Evans,  Emily 5138  Keyser  St. 

1899.  Evans,  Mrs.  Harry 53  Earlham  St. 

1904.  Fallom,  John  Francis Bound  Brook,  N.  J. 

1902.  Farmer,  Mrs.  Jennie  J 314  E.  Rittenhouse  St. 

1907.  Ferguson,  Mrs.  Joseph  C 418  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1907.  Ferguson,  Walter  Black 418  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1907.  Ferguson,  Emily  W 418  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1909.  Ferguson,  Edwin  Paul 418  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1898.  Field,  Mrs.  Thomas  R 232  W.  Willow  Grove  Ave. 

1893.  Findlay,  Mrs.  M.  M 346  Shedaker  St. 

1906.  Firth,  Joseph Charlotte,  N.  C. 

1895.  Firth,  Mrs.  Joseph Charlotte,  N.  C. 

1900.  Fisher,  Miranda 5221  Knox  St. 

1908.  Flavell,  George  K 5438  Wayne  Ave. 

1895.  Fleming,  James  P 48  E.  Washington  Lane. 

1905.  Fleu,  Girdon 6320  Morton  St. 

1896.  Fling,  Mrs.  George  R 251  Ramsey  St.,  St.'Paul,  Minn. 

1894.  Forman,  Mrs.  Henry India. 

1886.  Foreman,  Lucile Aintab,  Turkey. 

1908.  Forshee,  Martha  Sayers 815  Church  Lane. 

1908.  Forshee,  Bertha 815  Church  Lane. 

1900.  Fort,  Pierson  T 414  W.  Stafford  St. 

1900.  Fort,  Mrs.  Pierson  T 414  W.  Stafford  St. 


278  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 


DATE 
OP 
ADMISSION  NAMB  ADDRESS 

1898.  Fortescue,  Horace Stenton  Ave.  bel.  Gorgas  Lane. 

1899.  Fortescue,  Mrs.  Horace Stenton  Ave.  bel.  Gorgas  Lane. 

1900.  Fortescue,  Mrs.  Maria  B Stenton  Ave.  below  ^Gorgas  Lane. 

1905.  Foster,  Esther 4  Penn's  Court. 

1903.  Fox,  Mrs.  John  E 5611  Utah  St. 

1901.  Frazee,  Clarence  A 438  E.  Tulpehocken  St. 

1901.  Frazee,  Mrs.  Clarence  A 438  E.  Tulpehocken  St. 

1909.  Frazee,  Claude  C 438  E.  Tulpehocken  St. 

1905.  Freas,  Mrs.  Jacob E.  Haines  St.  beyond  Stenton  Ave. 

1876.  Freed,  Laura  A 5940  McCallum  St. 

1901.  Freed,  Mrs.  J.  Markley 531  Hansberry  St. 

1907.  Freeman,  Mrs.  William  Coleman St.  Martin's,  Chestnut  Hill. 

1903.  Freemantle,  Mrs.  F.  C 1522  Locust  St. 

1893.  French,  Lousia  F 235  W.  Rittenhouse  St. 

1888. "Fretz,  I.  Newton 40  Pastorius  St. 

1888.'  Fretz,  Mrs.  I.  Newton 40  Pastorius  St. 

1903.^  Fritz,  Sparta 159  Maplewood  Ave. 

1894.  Fritz,  Mrs.  Sparta 159  Maplewood  Ave. 

1904.  Frost,  Mrs.  Henry  W 235  W.  School  Lane. 

1904.  Frost,  Ellinwood  A 235  W.  School  Lane. 

1904.  Frost,  Inglis  F 235  W.  School  Lane. 

1904.  Frost,  Elizabeth  S 235  W.  School  Lane. 

1905.  Frost,  Hilegarde 235  W.  School  Lane. 

1905.  Frost,  Elfreda 235  W.  School  Lane. 

1884.  Fulton,  Nancy 5819  Knox  St. 

1902.  Furey,  Edgar  V 1726  Cayuga  St. 

1896.  Gabel,  John  C 117  W.  Washington  Lane. 

1894.  Gaede,  Mrs.  A.  Henry 4417  Germantown  Ave. 

1898.  Galbraith,  Gilbert  S 143  Maplewood  Ave. 

1898.  Galbraith,  Mrs.  Gilbert  S 143  Maplewood  Ave. 

1900.  Galloway,  Mrs.  Margaret 6318  Beechwood  St. 

1900.  Galloway,  John 6318  Beechwood  St. 

1890.  Galloway,  Mrs.  John 6318  Beechwood  St. 

1900.  Gardiner,  Mrs.  Martha  E 521  Hansberry  St. 

1905.  Gardiner,  Florence 521  Hansberry  St. 

1871.  Garrett,  EHzabeth  W 165  W.  Chelten|Ave. 

1874.  Garrett,  Emma  N 165  W.  Chelten^Ave. 

1904.  Garvey,  Rebecca 6026  Germantown  Ave. 

1870.  Garvin,  Mary 37  Pastorius  St. 

1887.  Gaw,  Mrs.  William  W 1636  Lafayette  St.,  Denver,  Col. 

1886.   Geere,  Anna 745  E.  Woodlawn  Ave. 

1904.  George,  Morris  Franklin Ogontz  Ave.  and  City  Line. 

1893.  George,  Mrs.  Morris  Franklin Ogontz  Ave.  and  City  Line. 

1903.  Gilfillan,  John 47  E.  School  Lane. 

1903.  Gilfillan,  John,  Jr 47  E.  School  Lane. 

1904.  Gilfillan,  Robert  Thomas 47  E.  School  Lane. 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  279 


DATE 
OF 
ADMISSION  NAME  ADDRESS 

1905.  Gilfillan,  Sarah 47  E.  School  Lane. 

1896.  Gill,  Mrs.  Charles  B Flatwood,  Ala. 

1900.  Gilmore,  Robert  A Haines  St.,  near  Chew  St. 

1904.  Gilmore,  Mrs.  Robert  A Haines  St.,  near  Chew  St. 

1908.  Glass,  Mrs.  Isabella 180  W.  Price  St. 

1904.  Gleason,  George Osaka,  Japan. 

1904.  Gleason,  Mrs.  George Osaka,  Japan. 

1891.  Glendinning,  Mrs.  John  F Atlantic  City,  N.  J. 

1907.  Glenn,  Mrs.  Robert  James 180  W.  Price  St. 

1907.  Glenn,  Robert  James 180  W.  Price  St. 

1901.  Gomeringer,  Susie  W Haines  St.  and  Stenton  Ave. 

1908.  Goodfellow,  Arthur  N 105  W.  School  Lane. 

1899.  Goodwin,  Mrs.  Mary 342  Armat  St. 

1904.  Graffin,  William  F 57  Westview  Ave. 

1904.  Graffin,  Mrs.  William  F 57  Westview  Ave. 

1903.  Graham,  D.  Barry 5036  Tacoma  vSt. 

1903.  Graham,  Mrs.  D.  Barry 5036  Tacoma  St. 

1908.  Graham,  Walter  James 5036  Tacoma  St. 

1890.  Graham,  Mrs.  Jane  E Beechwood  St.  and  Church  Lane. 

1908.  Graham,  Elizabeth 134  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1902.  Gramm,  Mrs.  Conrad 5200  Wayne  Ave. 

1906.  Gramm,  Harris 5200  Wayne  Ave. 

1898.  Gramm,  Mrs.  Lizzie  Y 2089  Washington  Ave.,  Denver,  Col. 

1903.  Gramm,  Paul  Francis 2089  Washington  Ave.,  Denver,|Col. 

1905.  Gramm,  Stanley 2089  Washington  Ave.,  Denver,[^Col. 

1893.  Gray,  Mrs.  Walter  N 329  W.  School  Lane. 

1893.  Greaser,  Clara  B 6055  Stenton  Ave. 

1902.  Greaser,  Jennie 6055  Stenton  Ave. 

1907.  Greaser,  Elsie  B 6055  Stenton  Ave. 

1904.  Greenwood,  Charles  Francis 48  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1903.  Gribbel,  Mrs.  Wakeman  G 319  Moreland  Ave.,  St.  Martin's,  C.H. 

1909.  Grier,  Jay  R 5134  Newhall  St. 

1904.  Griffin,  Eliza 228  Queen  Lane. 

1908.  Griffiths,  William  Wiederseim 6222  Clearview  Ave. 

1908.  Griffiths,  Mrs.  William  Wiederseim,  6222  Clearview  Ave. 

1882.  Grimes,  William  Ellis North  Deer  Isle,  Maine. 

1882.  Grimes,  Mary  J North  Deer  Isle,  Maine. 

1905.  Groben,  Clarence  Spencer 119  W.  Sharpnack  St. 

1907.  Groben,  Florence  D 119  W.  Sharpnack  St. 

1908.  Guitner,  Emma 119  Maplewood  Ave. 

1902.  Gull,  Caroline 8313  Norwood  St.,  Chestnut  Hill. 

1887.  Gunn,  Joseph 6316  Beechwood  St. 

1877.   Gunn,  Mrs.  Joseph 6316  Beechwood  St. 

1899.  Gtmn,  Joseph  Henry 6316  Beechwood  St. 

1899.  Gunn,  Mary  Isabel 6316  Beechwood  St. 

1903.  Haig,  Charles  Anthony 5919  Morton  St. 


280  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 


DATE 
OP 
ADMISSION  NAME  ADDRESS 

1894.  Haig,  Mrs.  Charles  A 5919  Morton  St. 

1896.  Haines,  Thomas  K.  P 5020  Knox  St. 

1900.  Haines,  Mrs.  Thomas  K.  P 5020  Knox  St. 

1903.  Haines,  Nellie  Wallace 262  Montana  St. 

1907.  Hainsworth,  William  H 5940  Beechwood  St. 

1907.  Hainsworth,  Mrs.  William  H 5940  Beechwood  St. 

1907.  Hainsworth,  Nellie 5940  Beechwood  St. 

1860.  Halford,  Mrs.  Joseph Wildwood,  N.  J. 

1878.  Halford,  John  J Wildwood,  N.  J. 

1885.  Halford,  Mary  J Wildwood,  N.  J. 

1890.  Halford,  Charles  W 254  E.  Walnut  Lane. 

1890.  Halford,  Mrs.  Charles  W 254  E.  Walnut  Lane. 

1904.  Halford,  Dorothy  J 254  E.  Walnut  Lane. 

1882.  Hallowell,  Ella  Irene 5322  Magnolia  Ave. 

1879.  Hamilton,  Mrs.  Robert 40  E.  Coulter  St. 

1902.  Hamilton,  Nellie 40  E.  Coulter  St. 

1883.  Hammer,  John  B 37  Pastorius  St. 

1894.  Hammer,  Hannah  S 37  Pastorius  St. 

1901.  Hammer,  Mary  E 37  Pastorius  St. 

1904.  Hammer,  John  Blakely 37  Pastorius  St. 

1907.  Hammer,  Thomas  C.  P 37  Pastorius  St. 

1890.  Handsberry,  Ellie 5222  Germantown  Ave. 

1902.  Handsberry,  Sue  B 5222  Germantown  Ave. 

1907.  Hanna,  Sarah  J 319  E.  Walnut  Lane. 

1906.  Hardcastle,  Louis Stenton  Ave.  and  Spencer  St. 

1901.  Harkinson,  Marion  C,  3d 5333  Germantown  Ave, 

1900.  Harmer,  Mrs.  L.  Howard 16  E.  Walnut  Lane. 

1890.  Harrington,  Melvin  H 112  W.  Upsal  St. 

1890.  Harrington,  Mrs.  Melvin  H 112  W.  Upsal  St. 

1898.  Harrington,  Arthur 112  W.  Upsal  St. 

1908.  Harrington,  Mary  Helen 112  W.  Upsal  St. 

1894.  Harrison,  Mrs.  George 6324  N.  Twenty-first  St. 

1901.  Harrison,  Elsie  P 6324  N.  Twenty-first  St. 

1905.  Harrison,  Alice  Chandler 6324  N.  Twenty-first  St. 

1902.  Harrison,  Mrs.  Harriet  T 2132  Grange  St. 

1902.  Harrison,  Hilda 2132  Grange  St. 

1899.  Hart,  Mrs.  William 145  Harvey  St. 

1899.  Hart.  Elizabeth  B 145  Harvey  St. 

1899.  Hart,  William  H 145  Harvey  St.  • 

1900.  Hart,  Dr.  Russell  T 145  Harvey  St. ' 

1880.  Hawley,  Miss  Emeline  A 428  High  St. 

1907.  Hayward,  Mrs.  W.  F 5339  Wakefield  St. 

1907.  Hayward,  Daisy  A 5339  Wakefield  St. 

1888.  Heckroth,  John  A 465  E.  Penn  St. 

1880.  Heckroth,  Mrs.  John  A 465  E.  Penn  St. 

1907.  Heckroth,  Albert  J 5648  Devon  St. 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  281 


DATB 
OF 
ADMISSION  NAUB  ADDRESS 

1907.  Heckroth,  Mrs.  Albert  J 5648  Devon  St. 

1904.  Heckroth,  Florence  Mabel E.  Wister  St.,  Wister  Station. 

1896.  Heid,  Mrs.  Joseph Overbrook,  Pa. 

1901.  Heid,  Henrietta  E Overbrook,  Pa. 

1900.  Heist,  Mrs.  Lee  H 5109  Knox  St. 

1907.  Heitz,  Ella  May 5723  Knox  St. 

1895.  Henderson,  James  P 6336  McCallum  St. 

1899.  Henderson,  Mrs.  James  P 6336  McCallum  St. 

1876.  Henry,  Mrs.  T.  Charlton 5337  Knox  St. 

1871.  Henry,  Bayard W.  Walnut  Lane. 

1897.  Henry,  Howard  Houston Fort  Washington,  Pa. 

1876.  Henry,  John  J Cherokee  &  Moreland  Aves.,  Ch.  Hill. 

1900.  Henry,  Mrs.  John  J Cherokee  &  Moreland  Aves.,  Ch.  Hill. 

1907.  Henry,  Charles  W Cherokee  &  Moreland  Aves.,  Ch.  Hill. 

1907.  Henry,  David  R Cherokee  &  Moreland  Aves.,  Ch.  Hill. 

1905.  Henry,  Thomas  Charlton Springfield  Ave.,  Chestnut  Hill. 

1903.  Henry,  Mrs.  Emma 47  W.  Penn  St. 

1872.  Henszey,  William  C Pasadena,  Cal. 

1881.  Henwood,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 44  W.  Penn  St. 

1900.  Heppe,  Florence  J Cresheim  Road. 

1900.  Heppe,  Mrs.  Florence  J Cresheim  Road. 

1871.  Hergesheimer,  Mrs.  Helen  J 151  E.  Coulter  St. 

1892.  Hesse,  William  C Upsal  St.  west  of  Wayne  Ave. 

1892.  Hesse,  Mrs.  William  C Upsal  St.  west  of  Wayne  Ave. 

1908.  Hesse,  William  Charles,  Jr Upsal  St.  west  of  Wayne  Ave. 

1899.  Heyl,  Martha  Reed 23  W.  Upsal  St. 

1883.  Heys,  Mrs.  Hannah Presbyterian  Home. 

1896.  Hicks,  Linda  A 928  E.  Chelten  Ave. 

1897.  Higgins,  Mrs.  Wilfred  W New  York  City. 

1884.  Hildebrand,  Elizabeth  M 334  E.  Haines  St. 

1905.  Hill,  Margaret  Clyde 208  E.  Sharpnack  St. 

1908.  Hill,  John,  Jr 208  E.  Sharpnack  St. 

1906.  Hillman,  Robert 1668  Dounton  St. 

1902.  Hillman,  Mrs.  Robert 1668  Dounton  St. 

1903.  Hinman,  Mrs.  Louis  S 407  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1903.  Hobbs,  Ernst  H Washington,  D.  C. 

1901.  Hobbs,  Mrs.  Ernst  H Washington,  D.  C. 

1899.  Hockman,  Hattie 163  W.  Penn  St. 

1895.  Hodge,  Thomas  Leiper 444  W.  Stafford  St. 

1883.  Hodge,  Mrs.  Thomas  Leiper 444  W.  Stafford  St. 

1896.  Hodge,  Sarah  Bache 401  W.  Price  St. 

1896.  Hodge,  Archibald  A 401  W.  Price  St. 

1896.  Hodge,  Henry  L 222  Winona  Ave. 

1887.  Hodge,  Mrs.  Henry  L 222  Winona  Ave. 

1904.  Hoffman,  Sargent  Glenn 6008  Germantown  Ave. 


282  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 


DATE 
OF 
ADMISSION  NAME  ADDRESS  t 

1908.  Hollows,  Elizabeth  A 833  Church  Lane. 

1908.  Hollows,  Benjamin 833  Church  Lane. 

1905.  Holt,  Mrs.  Harry  D 6967  Musgrove  St. 

1905.  Holt,  Anna  D 6967  Musgrove  St. 

1882.   Hook,  Walter  M 5231  Germantown  Ave. 

1890.  Horton,  Mrs.  Edward  H Wayne,  Pa. 

1903.  Hovey,  Mrs.  Annie  Elizabeth 127  Hansberry  St. 

1898.  Howard,  Mrs.  William 4853  Anderson  St. 

1903.  Howard,  Bessie  E 4853  Anderson  St. 

1906.  Hubbs,  John  Henry 5404  Wayne  Ave. 

1906.  Hubbs,  Mrs.  John  Henry 5404  Wayne  Ave. 

1882.  Hudson,  Mrs.  Alfred Medary  Ave.,  near  Beechwood  St. 

1890.  Hurtzman,  Mrs.  Maria 960  Woodlawn  Ave. 

1894.   Hurtzman,  Daniel 655  Clementine  St. 

1894.  Hurtzman,  William 6315  Beechwood  St. 

1901.  Huston,  Joseph  M Lehman  Lane. 

1903.   Hutchinson,  Edward Queen  Lane  west  of  Wissahickon  Ave. 

1903.  Hutchinson,  Mrs.  Edward Queen  Lane  west  of  Wissahickon  Ave. 

1882.  Hutchinson,  Thomas  F 110  E.  Washington  Lane. 

1883.  Hutchinson,  Mrs.  Thomas  F 110  E.  Washington  Lane. 

1899.  Hutchinson,  Bessie 110  E.  Washington  Lane. 

1885.  Hutchison,  Margaret  A Oak  Lane. 

1903.   lacampo,  Michael 430  W.  Woodlawn  Ave. 

1901.  Illingworth,  Harry 1032  Elm  St.,  Bristol.  Pa. 

1905.   Immendorf,  Clara 450  High  St. 

1892.  Ingham,  Mrs.  Richard  P 238  Church  Lane. 

1898.  Irons,  Clara  M 3606  N.  Twenty-second  St.,  Tioga. 

1898.  Irons  Sallie  B 3606  N.  Twenty-second  St.,  Tioga. 

1900.  Irvine,  Mary  L 927  N.  Broad  St. 

1905.  Irwin,  Mary  H Coulter  Inn. 

1874.  Jackson,  Mrs.  Charles 2132  S.  Sixty-eighth  St. 

1881.  Jakeman,  Mrs.  Firth 6077  Stenton  Ave. 

1898.  Jakeman,  Ruth 6077  Stenton  Ave. 

1903.  Jakeman,  Clara 6077  Stenton  Ave. 

1903.  Jakeman,  Edith 6077  Stenton  Ave. 

1907.  Jakeman,  Alice 6077  Stenton  Ave. 

1899.  Jakeman,  Thomas 5950  Beechwood  St. 

1902.  Jakeman,  Mrs.  Thomas 5950  Beechwood  St. 

1877.  Jakeman,  Mrs.  Mary  L 6237  Beechwood  St. 

1904.  Jakeman,  Morris 6237  Beechwood  St. 

1892.  Jenkins,  Mary 115  W.  Haines  St. 

1888.  Jenkinson,  Mrs.  Acis 410  Locust  Ave. 

1905.  Jenne,  Lyle  Loren 120  E.  Washington  Lane. 

1884.  Jenney,  Abraham Haines  St.,  Pittville. 

1895.  Jenney,  Mrs.  Abraham Haines  St.,  Pittville. 

1908.  Jenney,  John  A Haines  St.,  Pittville. 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  283 


DATE 
OP 
ADMISSION  NAME  ADDRESS 

1906.  Jennings,  Mrs.  W.  Beatty 6012  Greene  St. 

1909.  Jennings,  Arnold  Huff 6012  Greene  St. 

1908.  Jenny,  Harry 1354  E.  Rittenhouse  St. 

1909.  Jenesnius,  Howard  H 436  E.  Tulpehocken  St. 

1874.  Johnson,  Anna  M 6316  Germantown  Ave. 

1907.  Johnson,  Margaret  C 513  E.  Rittenhouse  St. 

1903.  Jones,  Mrs.  William  H 5078  Magnolia  Ave. 

1888.  Jones,  Albert  J 40  Pastorius  St. 

1888.  Jones,  Jeannie 40  Pastorius  St. 

1888.  Jones,  Mary  S 40  Pastorius  St. 

1894.   Jones,  William  L 46  Pastorius  St. 

1868.  Jones,  Mrs.  Clement  D Plymouth,  Montgomery  Co.,  Pa. 

1882.  Jones,  Mrs.  Charles  S 416  School  Lane. 

1894.  Jones,  Edward  Herring Care  Liecester  &  Continental   Mills, 

New  York  City. 

1899.  Jones,  Mrs.  Charles  H 204  E.  Rittenhouse  St. 

1909.  Jones,  Mary  Selina 204  E.  Rittenhouse  St. 

1903.  Jones,  Mabel  Steele Shanghai,  China. 

1895.  Jones,  Mrs.  S.  Percy 167  Maplewood  Ave. 

1904.  Keenan,  Mary  E 44  W.  Duval  St. 

1889.  Kelly,  Mrs.  William  B 179  Maplewood  Ave. 

1901.  Kelly,  Mary  Margaret 179  Maplewood  Ave. 

1905.  Kelly,  William  Benton  Jr 179  Maplewood  Ave. 

1902.  Kelsh,  Emma 5526  Boyer  St. 

1893.  Kendig,  Mrs.  H.  Evert 5328  Baynton  St. 

1889.   Kendrick,  James  R 133  Harvey  St. 

1889.  Kendrick,  Mrs.  James  R 133  Harvey  St. 

1894.  Kendrick,  Edith 133  Harvey  St. 

1889.  Kendrick,  Thomas  F 133  Harvey  St. 

1908.  Kenworthy,  Ethel  Alice 835  Church  Lane. 

1907.  Kephart,  Mrs.  Charles 6252  Beechwood  St. 

1909.  Kerr,  M.  Henry 65  W.  Johnson  St. 

1909.  Kerr,  Mrs.  M.  Henry 65  W.  Johnson  St. 

1894.   Kesten,  Philip  B 5660  Morton  St. 

1894.  Kesten,  Mrs.  Philip  B 5660  Morton  St. 

1901.  Keyser,  Katherine  V 5922  Germantown  Ave. 

1888.   Keyser,  Jeanette  C 5922  Germantown  Ave. 

1894.   Keyser,  Francis 240  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1904.  Kidder,  Edgar  S 48  E.  Penn  St. 

1903.  Kidder,  Mrs.  Edgar  S 48  E.  Penn  St. 

1904.  Kidder,  Carrie  E 48  E.  Penn  St. 

1904.  Kidder,  Dorothy  E 48  E.  Penn  St. 

1906.  Kidder,  Almon  Wall 48  E.  Penn  St. 

1891.  Kinkaid,  Robert 121  W.  Rittenhouse  St. 

1896.  Kinkaid,  Mrs.  Robert 121  W.  Rittenhouse  St. 

1873.  Kinnier,  John 4609  Germantown  Ave. 


284  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 


DATB 
OF 
ADUISSION  NAMB  ADDRESS 

1856.  Kinnier,  Ellen 815  Church  Lane. 

1859.  Kinnier,  Margaret 815  Church  Lane. 

1885.  Kinnier,  Adele 815  Church  Lane. 

1899.  Kinnier,  William 822  Locust  Ave. 

1899.  Kinnier,  Mrs.  William 822  Locust  Ave. 

1900.  Kinnier,  Charles  F 211  Shedaker  St. 

1904.  Kinnier,  Mrs.  Charles  F 211  Shedaker  St. 

1906.  Kinnier,  James  W 6117  Beechwood  St. 

1906.  Kinnier,  Mrs.  James  W 6117  Beechwood  St. 

1898.  Kirby,  William 4967  Sheldon  St. 

1899.  Kirk.  Harry  K 103  W.  Hansberry  St. 

1899.  Kirk,  Mrs.  Harry  K 103  W.  Hansberry  St. 

1879.  Kitchen,  Mrs.  James  G 449  Locust  Ave. 

1902.  Kitchen,  Philip  Gordon 449  Locust  Ave. 

1901.  Kitchen,  William  G 503  E.  Walnut  Lane. 

1898.  Kitchen,  Mrs.  William  G 503  E.  Walnut  Lane. 

1888.  Klineback,  Mrs.  George  S 62  Wister  St. 

1895.  Klotz,  Mrs.  William  H 100  Pastorius  St. 

1895.  Klotz,  Elizabeth  M 100  Pastorius  St. 

1904.  Klotz,  Emma  M 100  Pastorius  St. 

1894.  Klotz,  Harry  M 6651  Musgrove  St.,  Mt.  Airy. 

1896.  Knaeble,  Mrs.  Emile 485  E.  Penn  St. 

1896.  Knight,  Mrs.  G.  Lee 4000  Pine  St. 

1894.  Knight,  Mrs.  Frank  C 139  W.  Sharpnack  St. 

1894.  Knipe,  Walter  E 327  E.  Walnut  Lane. 

1894.  Knipe,  Mrs.  Walter  E 327  E.  Walnut  Lane. 

1907.  Knipe,  Ellen 327  E.  Walnut  Lane. 

1902.  Knipe,  Franklin  P 3146  N.  Ninth  St. 

1907.  Knodle,  Francis  M 6319  Baynton  St. 

1907.  Knodle,  Mrs.  Francis  M 6319  Baynton  St. 

1907.  Knodle,  E.  Roberta 6319  Baynton  St. 

1908.  Kopp,  Mrs.  Virginia  P 6161  N.  Twenty-first  St. 

1883.  Krieble,  Daniel  S 133  W.  Sharpnack  St. 

1883.  Krieble,  Mrs.  Daniel  S 133  W.  Sharpnack  St. 

1907.  Kulp,  Ethel Midvale  and  Wissahickon  Aves. 

1894.  Lackey,  Alexander  F 7327  Boyer  St. 

1894.  Lackey,  Lillie 7327  Boyer  St. 

1894.  Lackey,  Sophie 7327  Boyer  St. 

1886.  Lackman,  Mrs.  Katie  Boot 230  E.  Haines  St.  (Rear). 

1901.  Lackman,  Mrs.  Clara  P Stenton  Ave.  below  Godfrey. 

1901.  Lalor,  William  B 159  W.  Penn  St. 

1901.  Lalor,  Mrs.  William  B 159  W.  Penn  St. 

1900.  Lambert,  Henry  L.  W 5326  Magnolia  Ave. 

1900.  Lambert,  Mrs.  Henry  L.  W 5326  Magnolia  Ave. 

1894.  Landell,  Herbert  S 177  E.  Walnut  Lane. 

1904.  Landell,  Mrs.  Herbert  S 177  E.  Walnut  Lane. 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  285 


DATE 
OF 
ADMISSION  NAME  ADDRESS 

1901.  Landis,  John  G 70  Springer  St. 

1894.  Lang,  Albert 147  E.  Washington  Lane. 

1889.  Lang,  Mrs.  Albert 147  E.  Washington  Lane. 

1901.  Lang,  Mary  W 147  E.  Washington  Lane. 

1904.  Lang,  Agnes  Margaret  Yost 147  E.  Washington  Lane. 

1904.  Lang,  Rosalie 147  E.  Washington  Lane. 

1907.  Lang,  Augusta  Sophia 147  E.  Washington  Lane. 

1901.  Lang,  Louisa  Christina 147  E.  Washington  Lane. 

1907.  Lang,  Robert  Murray 147  E.  Washington  Lane. 

1894.  Lang,  Albert  William 130  Pomona  Terrace. 

1904.  Langstroth,  Mrs.  Theodore  A Silver  City,  New  Mexico. 

1904.  Langstroth,  Theodore Silver  City,  New  Mexico. 

1904.  Langstroth,  Katherine  B 

1904.   Langstroth,  Francis  O 

1890.  Lanning,  Arthur  H 5312  Lena  St. 

1899.  Lanning,  Mrs.  Arthur  H 5312  Lena  St. 

1903.  Latta,  William  J Moreland  Ave.  &  Huron  St.,  Ch.  Hill. 

1903.  Latta,  Mrs.  William  J Moreland  Ave.  &  Huron  St.,  Ch.  Hill. 

1897.  Lauchlen,  Bruce 85  W.  Sharpnack  St. 

1897.  Lauchen,  Maud 85  W.  Sharpnack  St. 

1887.  Leake,  Frank 316  E.  Price  St. 

1886.  Leake,  Mrs.  Frank 316  E.  Price  St. 

1900.  Leake,  Marion  Ella 316  E.  Price  St. 

1900.  Leake,  Gertrude  Elizabeth 316  E.  Price  St. 

1901.  Lee,  Mrs.  Kate  Remsen 5450  Germantown  Ave. 

1897.  Leech,  Elizabeth  E 4837  Germantown  Ave. 

1904.  Leinau,  Roberts Ill  S.  Seventh  St. 

1904.  Leinau,  Mrs.  Roberts HI  S.  Seventh  St. 

1904.  Leinau,  Ethel Ill  S.  Seventh  St. 

1906.  Lesher,  A.  Y 5022  Newhall  St. 

1906.  Lesher,  Mrs.  A.  Y 5022  Newhall  St. 

1883.  Lester,  William  J 

1887.  Lippincott,  Mrs.  Wallace  H Ruxton.  P.  O.,  Baltimore,  Md. 

1908.  Lippincott,  Mrs.  John  J 6010  Greene  St. 

1893.  Lister,  Benjamin  B 58  W.  Upsal  St. 

1893.  Lister,  Mrs.  Benjamin  B 58  W.  Upsal  St. 

1872.  Little,  Jennie 5517  Market  Square. 

1905.  Littman  Alfred  H, 5975  Beechwood  St. 

1900.  Littman,  Mrs.  Alfred  H 5975  Beechwood  St. 

1881.  Livezey,  George  F 3004  W.  Cvmiberland  St. 

1880.  Livezey,  Mrs.  George  F 3004  W.  Cumberland  St. 

1894.  Livezey,  Girard  R 3004  W.  Cumberland  St. 

1895.  Logan,  Mrs.  Mary Locust  Ave.  and  Chew  St. 

1894.  Logan,  Bessie Locust  Ave.  and  Chew  St. 

1900.  Logan,  Mary  B Vineland,  N.  J. 

1897.   Logan,  James  Simpson 65  W.  Johnson  St. 


286  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 


DATE 
OF 
AOMISSIOK  NAME  ADDRESS 

1897.  Logan,  Samuel  S 345  Pelham  Road. 

1886,  London,  Matilda  H Tokio,  Japan. 

1904.  Longcope,  Walter  C 6845  Gorsten  St. 

1904.  Longcope,  Mrs.  Walter  C 6845  Gorsten  St. 

1893.  Longmire,  Mrs.  Charles  H 49  High  St. 

1890.  Longstreth,  William  Morris Penn  and  Knox  Sts. 

1890.  Longstreth,  Mrs.  William  Morris. .  .  Penn  and  Knox  Sts. 

1906.  Longstreth,  Dorothy Penn  and  Knox  Sts. 

1906.  Longstreth,  William  Church Penn  and  Knox  Sts. 

1907.  Longstreth,  Anna  Williams Penn  and  Knox  Sts. 

1880.  Lonsdale,  Alfred  F 20  Armat  St. 

1893.  Lonsdale,  Emma  Lillian 20  Armat  St. 

1903.  Lonsdale,  Elsie  Miriam 20  Armat  St. 

1888.  Lonsdale,  Wm.  Henry 275  W.  Haines  St. 

1888.  Lonsdale,  Mrs.  Wm.  Henry 275  W.  Haines  St. 

1901.  Lonsdale,  Ida  Mary 275  W.  Haines  St. 

1905.  Lonsdale,  Edith  Florence 275  W.  Haines  St. 

1907.  Lonsdale,  Carrie  Fox 275  W.  Haines  St. 

1893.  Lorimer,  Mrs.  John S.  E.  cor.  Walnut  Lane  &  Wayne  Ave. 

1893.  Lorimer,  Anna  K S.  E.  cor.  Walnut  Lane  &  Wayne  Ave. 

1894.  Losko,  John 6335  Norwood  St. 

1875.  Loughery,  Mrs.  Samuel 4062  Powelton  Ave. 

1885.  Lukens,  Mrs.  Charles  M The  Delmar. 

1901.   Lutz,  Mrs.  Robert Florence,  N.  J. 

1904.  Lyons,  John 5724  Knox  St. 

1903.  Lyons,  Mrs.  John 5724  Knox  St. 

1904.  Lyons,  William  John 5724  Knox  St. 

1907.  Lyons,  Mrs.  William  S 4857  Anderson  St. 

1888.  McCallum,  Mrs.  Mary  0 33  E.  Clapier  St. 

1889.  McCann,  Mrs.  Horace  F 109  E.  Washington  Lane. 

1909.  McCann,  Wilmot  A 109  E.  Washington  Lane. 

1909.  McCann,  Richard  H 109  E.  Washington  Lane. 

1901.  McCarty,  William  Walker 152  Pomona  Terrace. 

1901.  McCarty,  Mrs.  Wm.  Walker 152  Pomona  Terrace. 

1894.  McCarty,  Charles  J 164  E.  Chelten  Ave. 

1901.  McCaw,  George 5231  Greene  St. 

1898.  McCaw,  William 251  W.  Walnut  Lane. 

1880.  McCleary,  Margaret 5130  Wayne  Ave. 

1880.  McCombs,  Jeanette  P 273  W.  Haines  St. 

1894.  McCombs,  Bertha  A 273   W.  Haines  St. 

1894.  McCombs,  Eugene 273  W.  Haines  St. 

1904.  McCorkle,  Elizabeth 5346  Wayne  Ave. 

1906.  McCracken,  James  S 5443  Greene  St. 

1905.  McCracken,  Mrs.  James  S 5443  Greene  St. 

1905.  McCracken,  Robert  L 5443  Greene  St. 

1905.  McCracken,  Lillian 5443  Greene  St. 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  287 


DATE 
OF 
ADMISSION  NAME  ADDRESS 

1905.  McCracken,  Helen 5443  Greene  St. 

1902.  McFadden,  Augusta 5105  Pulaski  Ave. 

1890.  Mcintosh,  Katherine  G Cresheim  Road  above  Carpenter  St. 

1889.  McKeown,  Mrs.  Thomas 317  Earlham  Terrace. 

1882.  McKeown,  Emily 223  Church  Lane. 

1885.  McKeown,  Deborah 223  Church  Lane. 

1886.  McKeown,  Margaret 223  Church  Lane. 

1890.  McKeown,  Sarah 223  Church  Lane. 

1894.  McKeown,  Elizabeth  A 223  Church  Lane. 

1894.  McKeown,  Hugh 223  Church  Lane. 

1899.  McKinney,  Charles  R 414  E.  Haines  St. 

1899.  McKinney,  Mrs.  Charles  R 414  E.  Haines  St. 

1899.  McKinney,  Samuel  W.  H 414  E.  Haines  St. 

1899.  McKinney,  Charles  M 414  E.  Haines  St. 

1899.  McKinney,  Albert  H 414  E.  Haines  St. 

1906.  McKinney,  Russell  Edmunds 414  E.  Haines  St. 

1907.  McKinney,  Davis  S 414  E.  Haines  St. 

1891.  McKinney,  Mary  J 124  Haines  vSt. 

1894.  McKinney,  Margaret  E 124  Haines  St. 

1902.  McLaughlin,  William  J E.  Washington  Lane. 

1902.  McLaughlin,  Mrs.  William  J E.Washington  Lane. 

1885.  McLean,  Margaret Cresheim  Road  above  Carpenter  St. 

1890.  McLean,  Mrs.  John  A 96  E.  Seymour  St. 

1890.  McLean,  Annie 96  E.  Seymour  St. 

1893.  McLean,  William  L Indian,  Queen  Lane. 

1893.  McLean,  Mrs.  William  L Indian,  Queen  Lane. 

1905.  McLean,  Warden Indian,  Queen  Lane. 

1906.  McLean,  Robert Indian,  Queen  Lane. 

1908.  McLean.  William  L.,  Jr Indian,  Queen  Lane. 

1901.  McMaster,  Thomas  J Seventh  and  Dauphin  Sts. 

1901.  McMaster,  Mrs.  Thomas  J Seventh  and  Dauphin  Sts. 

1851.  McNabb,  Mrs.  Mary  A 341  Church  Lane. 

1893.  McNabb,  David 5835  Boyer  St. 

1893.  McNabb,  Mrs.  David 5835  Boyer  St. 

1887.  MacDonald,  Robert 5373  Wingohocking  Terrace. 

1887.  MacDonald,  Mrs.  Robert 5373  Wingohocking  Terrace. 

1899.  MacDonald,  Sarah 5373  Wingohocking  Terrace  ; 

1900.  MacDonald,  Harry 5373  Wingohocking  Terrace.' 

1904.  MacDonald,  Emma  Elizabeth 5373  Wingohocking  Terrace. 

1898.  Macintosh,  Marion  T 620  S.  Washington  Square. 

1898.  Macintosh,  Adeline  A 620  S.  Washington  Square.- 

1898.  Macintosh,  John  O 620  S.  Washington  Square. 

1907.  Macintosh,  Dr.  B.  S 1821  Wallace  St. 

1899.  MacKellar,  Mrs.  Catharine  B 4841  Pulaski  Ave. 

1899.  MacKellar,  Thomas,  Jr 4841  Pulaski  Ave. 

1884.  MacLeod,  Mrs.  Georgiana  R 5450  Germantown  Ave. 


288  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 


DATS 
OP 
ADMISSION  NAME  ADDRESS 

1897.  MacLeod,  Norman  M 5450  Germantown  Ave. 

1848.  MacNeill,  Miss  Jane 5653  Chew  St. 

1870.  MacNeill,  Ellen 1534  Mt.  Vernon  St. 

1903.  MacNeill,  Elizabeth  C 5615  Baynton  St. 

1894.  Madara,  Mrs.  Delia 256  Apsley  St. 

1894.  Maguire,  William E.  Washington  Lane. 

1894.  Maguire,  Mrs.  William E.  Washington  Lane. 

1894.  Maguire,  Frank  C E.  Washington  Lane. 

1901.  Maguire,  Anna  H E.  Washington  Lane. 

1099.  Mair,  Esther 51  High  St. 

1909.  Mair,  Bethia  K 51  High  St. 

1881.  Malatratt,  Mrs.  Mary  B Rittersville,  Pa. 

1904.  Malatratt,  Elmer  Burdette Rittersville,  Pa. 

1894.  Manley,  Emily 130  E.  Price  St. 

1856.  Mansfield,  Mary 48  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1866.  Mansfield,  Sarah  L 48  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1896.  Mansfield,  Clarence  S 79  High  St. 

1907.  Mansfield,  Mrs.  Clarence  S 79  High  St. 

1871.  Mansfield,  Dr.  Job  R 5620  Germantown  Ave. 

1874.  Mansfield,  Dr.  Harry  K 130  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1878.  Mansfield,  Mrs.  Harry  K 130  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1908.  Mansfield,  Emily  W 130  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1882.  Marshall,  Mrs.  Charles 235  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1904.  Marshall,  Charles,  Jr 235  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1900.  Marshall,  Thomas  L 5321  Lena  St. 

1887.  Martien,  Alfred 107  W.  Washington  Lane. 

1890.  Martin,  Alexander 155  W.  Walnut  Lane. 

1890.  Martin,  Mrs.  Alexander 155  W.  Walnut  Lane. 

1901.  Martin,  Alexander  T 155  W.  Walnut  Lane. 

1903.  Martin,  Stuart  Thompson 155  W.  Walnut  Lane. 

1894.  Martin,  Richard  S 168  Herman  St. 

1891.  Martin,  Mrs.  Richard  S 168  Herman  St. 

1906.  Marvel,  Irma  Viola 7003  Greene  St. 

1894.  Mason,  Mrs.  John  T 6161  N.  Twenty-first  St. 

1896.  Mather,  Mrs.  John  M 565  N.  Wanamaker  St. 

1894.  Maxwell,  Isaac  E 5603  Utah  St. 

1892.  Maxwell,  Mrs.  Isaac  E 5603  Utah  St. 

1902.  Maxwell,  Walter  G 48  E.  Penn  St. 

1903.  Maxwell,  Mrs.  Eugene  W 5247  Knox  St. 

1903.  Maxwell,  Alfred  LaFayette 5247  Knox  St. 

1906.  May,  Flora 841  E.  Locust  Ave. 

1888.  Mears,  Martha  T 114  East  Upsal  St. 

1883.  Mechling,  Benjamin  F The  Bartram. 

1883.  Mechling,  Mrs.  Benjamin  F The  Bartram. 

1905.  Mechling,  William  Hubbs The  Bartram. 

1883.  Mechling.  William  H Wingohocking  Heights. 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  289 


DATE 
OF 
ADMISSION  NAME  ADDRESS 

1883.  Mechling,  Mrs.  William    H Wingohocking  Heights. 

1894.  Mechling,  Edward  A Moorestown,  N.  J. 

1898.  Mechling,  Benjamin  F.  Jr 370  Church  Lane. 

1907.  Mechling,  Mrs.  Benjamin  F.,  Jr 370  Church  Lane. 

1890.  Mechling,  Benjamin  S Riverton,  N.  J. 

1906.  Meile,  EHzabeth 8313   Norwood  Ave.,  Chestnut  Hill 

1901.  Meredith,  James  Edwin 6370  Germantown  Ave. 

1908.  Messer,  Mrs.  Amy 467  E.  Penn  St. 

1892.  Miles,  Mrs.  Mary  L 227  Queen  Lane. 

1892.  Miles,  Mary  E 227  Queen  Lane. 

1892.  Miles,  Kate  L 5423  Germantown  Ave. 

1866.  Miller,  Mary  J 105  Pastorius  St. 

1868.  Miller,  Julia  F 105  Pastorius  St. 

1868.  Miller,  Josephine  K 6350  Jeflferson  St. 

1871.  Miller,  Elizabeth  F 6350  Jefferson  St. 

1891.  Miller,  Katherine  B 5439  Morris  St. 

1901.  Miller,  Maria 134  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1903.  Miller,  WilHam  P 1335  E.  Rittenhouse  St. 

1903.  Miller,  Mrs.  William  P 1335  E.  Rittenhouse  St. 

1903.  Miller,  Elidy 1335  E.  Rittenhouse  St. 

1907.  Miller,  Caroline  K 1335  E.  Rittenhouse  St. 

1908.  Miller,  Geraldine  L 607  E.  Chelten  Ave. 

1909.  Miller,  Mortimer  G 607  E.  Chelten  Ave. 

1909.  Mitchell,  Robert  S 6332  Jefferson  St. 

1909.  Mitchell,  Mrs.  Robert  S 6332  Jefferson  St. 

1909.  Mitchell,  Thomas  G 6332  Jefferson  St. 

1909.  Mitchell,  Lily  G 6332  Jefferson  St. 

1905.  Moir,  Richard  Henry Norristown,  Pa. 

1905.  Moir,  Mrs.  Richard  Henry Norristown,  Pa. 

1908.  Moir,  LilHan  Matilda Norristown,  Pa. 

1907.  Molitor,  John 319  E.  Walnut  Lane. 

1907.  Molitor,  Mrs.  John 319  E.  Walnut  Lane. 

1897.  Montelius,  William  E 8309  Shawnee  Ave. 

1901.  Montelius,  Mrs.  William  E 8309  Shawnee  Ave. 

1900.  Montross,  Mrs.  John  F Hillside  Ave.,  Jenkintown,  Pa. 

1889.  Moore,  Frank 549  E.  Haines  St. 

1881.  Moore,  Mrs.  Frank 549  E.  Haines  St. 

1908.  Moore,  Sarah  P 549  E.  Haines  St. 

1892.  Moore,  George  D 181  Maplewood  Ave. 

1892.  Moore,  Mrs.  George  D 181  Maplewood  Ave. 

1902.  Moore,  Mary  Louise 181  Maplewood  Ave. 

1902.  Moore,  Emeline  R 181  Maplewood  Ave. 

1906.  Moore,  Charlotte  H 181  Maplewood  Ave. 

1908.  Moore,  Samuel  Rathmell 181  Maplewood  Ave. 

1896.  Moore,  Dr.  William  F Llanerch,  Delaware  Co.,  Pa. 

1907.  Moore,  Beulah  V 6010  Greene  St. 


290  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 


DATB 
OF 
ADMISSION  NAMB  ADDRESS 

1901.  Moorehead,  Thomas  A 402  E.  Walnut  Lane. 

1893.  Moorehead,  Lydia 117  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1890.  Morgan,  Mrs.  Cecilia 5649  Boyer  St. 

1896.  Morley,  Charles  Henry 5670  Boyer  St. 

1886.  Morrison,  James 61  W.  School    Lane. 

1885.  Morrison,  Mrs.  James 61  W.  School  Lane. 

1905.  Morrison,  Elizabeth  Thompson.  ...  61  W.  School  Lane. 

1907.  Morrison,  May  Frances 61  W.  School  Lane. 

1902.  Morrison,  Martha 168  W.  School  Lane. 

1894.  Moser,  Mrs.  R.  W Haines  St.  near  Stenton  Ave. 

1908.  Moult,  Mrs.  Martha 4859  Anderson  St. 

1908.  Moult,  Sarah  Annie 4859  Anderson  St. 

1908.  Moult,  John  William 4859  Anderson  St. 

1905.  Mowrey,  Elsie  Catherine 363  E.  Chelten  Ave. 

1907.  Mowrey,  Nina  M 363  E.  Chelten  Ave. 

1898.  Murdoch,  Benjamin 6354  Jefferson  St. 

1898.  Murdoch,  Mrs.  Benjamin 6354  Jefferson  St. 

1905.  Murphy,  Mrs.  Walter 618  W.  Rittenhouse  St. 

1906.  Murphy,  Helen  Benson 618  W.  Rittenhouse  St. 

1906.  Murphy,  Emma  Maxwell 618  W.  Rittenhouse  St. 

1906.  Murphy,  Harold  Purves 618  W.  Rittenhouse  St. 

1907.  Murphy,  Mrs.  Lucy  R 5220  Laurens  St. 

1907.  Murphy,  Aline  Moore 5220  Laurens  St. 

1896.  Murray,  Mrs.  Robert Fox  Chase. 

1909.  Muschert,  Nina 5654  Heiskell  St. 

1886.  Musgrave,  Mrs.  Annie  E 5025  Wayne  Ave. 

1903.  Mylrae,  C.  Stanley  Garland,  M.  D..  .  Bahrein,  Arabia. 

1903.  Mylrae,  Mrs.  C.  Stanley  Garland. . .  .  Bahrein,  Arabia. 

1904.  Neff,  Oliver  Kane 5621  Heiskell  St. 

1899.  Neiheiser,  Andrew  G 579  E.  Haines  St. 

1894.  Neiheiser,  Mrs.  Andrew  G 579  E.  Haines  St. 

1907.  Neiheiser,  Credilla  W 579  E.  Haines  St. 

1907.  Neiheiser,  Irvin  L 579  E.  Haines  St. 

1890.  Nelson,  Mrs.  George 124  E.  Phil-Ellena  St. 

1882.  Nevill,  Richard 5831  Knox  St. 

1874.   Nevill,  Mrs.    Richard 5831  Knox  St. 

1906.  Nevill,  Mary 5831  Knox  St. 

1905.  Newland,  Mrs.  Mary  A 45  E.  Washington  Lane. 

1905.  Newland,  Helen  L 45  E.  Washington  Lane. 

1894.   Nice,  William  H 6212  Baynton  St. 

1888.  Nicholas,  Mrs.  Charles,  Jr 3044  N.  Franklin  St. 

1907.  Nittrouer,  Mrs.  Georgiana  G 37  Collom  St. 

1893.   North,  Mrs.  Francis  A 117  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1893.   North,  Alfred  M 117  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1891.  Nuttall,  Mrs.  Frederick 2  Greaves  Court. 

1893.  Oelberman,  Mrs.  Julius 302  Carpenter  St. 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  291 


DATE 
OF 
ADMISSION  NAME  ADDRESS 

1875.  Orbison,  Mrs.  Lillie  E India. 

1885.  Omiiston,  Mrs.  Andrew  C Flourtown  Ave.,  Wyndmoor. 

1894.  Osbom,  Mrs.  Henry 268  W.  Rittenhouse  St. 

1908.  Osier,  Joseph  L 161  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1907.  Paine,  Madeline  Worrell 401  W.  School  Lane. 

1907.  Paine,  Harold  George 401  W.  School  Lane. 

1908.  Paine,  Gladys  Treat 401  W.  School  Lane. 

1884.  Parke,  Mary  S Meadowbrook,  Montgomery  Co.,  Pa. 

1870.  Parker,  Mrs.  Samuel 49  Herman  St. 

1886.  Parker,  Mary  Alice 49  Herman  St. 

1903.  Parker,  Horace 51  Herman  St. 

1903.  Parker,  Mrs.  Horace 51  Herman  St. 

1904.  Parmalee,  Elmira 5105  Pulaski  Ave. 

1906.  Partridge,  Miriam 238  W.  School  Lane. 

1880.  Paton,  William 338  Mechanic  St. 

1880.  Paton,  Mrs.  William 338  Mechanic  St. 

1881.  Patterson,  Mrs.  William  H Merion,  Pa. 

1894.  Patton,  Mrs.  Robert  Emmet 26  W.  Coulter  St. 

1895.  Patton,  Robert  D 26  W.  Coulter  St. 

1892.  Patton,  Gideon  Harmer 26  W.  Coulter  St. 

1894.  Patton,  Pearl  Estelle 36  E.  Coulter  St. 

1905.  Patton,  Mrs.  Thomas  Allison 741  E.  Chelten  Ave. 

1905.  Paxson,  Mrs.  Carrie  A Presbyterian  Home. 

1901.  Payne,  Margaret  B 19  W.  Walnut  Lane. 

1894.  Payson,  Anna  E 5033  Wade  St. 

1899.  Peacock,  S.  Moore 6202  Wayne  Ave. 

1872.  Pease,  James  O.,  Jr Oakboume,  Pa. 

1905.  Peebles,  William  J 326  W.  Duval  St. 

1905.  Peebles,  Mrs.  William  J 326  W.  Duval  St. 

1905.  Peebles,  Clara  Rowena 326  W.  Duval  St. 

1908.  Peebles,  Mary  D 326  W.  Duval  St. 

1873.  Penrose,  Mrs.  Clement  B 182  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1873.  Penrose,  Emily  L 182  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1874.  Penrose,  Valeria  F 182  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1891.  Penrose,  Mary  Clementine 182  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1909.  Pflugfelder,  W.  H.  G 5610  Heiskell  St. 

1905.  Pflugfelder,  Mrs.  W.  H.  G 5610  Heiskell  St. 

1907.  Pickles,  Mrs.  Alice 6015  Stenton  Ave. 

1905.  Pickles,  Edna 6015  Stenton  Ave. 

1906.  Pickles,  Sydney  Brook 6015  Stenton  Ave. 

1907.  Pickles,  Ethel 6015  Stenton  Ave. 

1904.  Picot,  Mrs.  Jane  D Glenside,  Pa. 

1904.  Piening,  Ida 6030  Beechwood  St. 

1908.  Piening,  Lena  Irene 6034  Beechwood  St. 

1892.  Pierce,  Mrs.  Charles  J West  Somerville,  Mass. 

1891.  Pitfield,  Mrs.  Robert  L 5211  Wayne  Ave. 


292 


THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 


DATE 

OF 

ADMISSION 

1905. 
1905. 

1879. 
1870. 
1893. 
1893. 
1904. 
1880. 
1906. 
1887. 
1887. 
1888. 
1889. 
1904. 
1898. 
1900. 
1900. 
1894. 
1888. 
1885. 
1900. 
1889. 
1895. 
1886. 
1891. 
1905. 
1882. 
1903. 
1906. 
1906. 
1902. 
1892. 
1901. 
1902. 
1893. 
1888. 
1888. 
1903. 
1903. 
1903. 
1882. 
1905. 
1905. 
1907. 
1904. 
1905. 


NAME  ADD'^ESS 

Pittman,  Raymond  H 247  W.  Duval  St. 

Pittman,  Mrs.  Raymond  H 247  W.  Duval  St. 

Plass,  Mrs.  Charles  F.  W 741  E.  Chelten  Ave. 

Plass,  Mrs.  Herman  T Morton  St.,  near  Woodlawn  Ave. 

Pooley,  Frederick  J Germantown. 

Pooley,  Mrs.  Frederick  J Germantown. 

Pope,  Ida 6102  Baynton  St. 

Potterton,  Mrs.  Samuel 528  High  St. 

Potterton,  Clara  Elizabeth 528  High  St. 

Potts,  H.  C 6370  Germantown  Ave. 

Potts,  Mrs.  H.  C 6370  Germantown  Ave. 

Potts,  George 215  E.  Phil-Ellena  St. 

Potts,  Mrs.  George 215  E.  Phil-Ellena  St. 

Potts,  George,  Jr 6642  Crowson  St. 

Potts,  Mrs.  Charles  William 213  Cliveden  Ave. 

Powell,  S.  Jennie 1500  Mt.  Vernon  St. 

Powell,  Jessie 1500  Mt.  Vernon  St. 

Preston,  Mrs.  James  A 5033  Wade  St. 

Price,  Emanuel Bala  Home,  Bala,  Pa. 

Price,  Charies  E 436  E.  Haines  St. 

Price,  Mrs.  Charles  E 436  E.  Haines  St. 

Price,  Henry 5910  Baynton  St. 

Price,  Mrs.  Henry 5910  Baynton  St. 

Price,  Mrs.  John 116  W.  Haines  St. 

Price,  Mrs.  Emma  0 412  Manheim  St. 

Prince,  Mabel  E 6302  Morton  St. 

Provost,  Mrs.  Roderick 447  E.  Mt.  Airy  Ave. 

Pugh,  Ethel  Lois 48  E.  Penn  St. 

Pugh,  Edward  Lawrence 48  E.  Penn  St. 

Pugh,  Helen  Newhold 48  E.  Penn  St. 

Ramage,  Mrs.  Sarah 518  High  St. 

Ramage,  Maggie 518  High  St. 

Ramsey,  Margaret  W 56  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

Raven,  Mrs.  Laura 6237  Beechwood  St. 

Raws,  Lewis 261  Ashmead  St. 

Raws,  William Whitings,  N.  J. 

Raws,  Mrs.  William Whitings,  N.  J. 

Rebbie,  Henry 157  E.  Chelten  Ave. 

Rebbie,  Joseph 157  E.  Chelten  Ave. 

Rebbie,  Mrs.  Edward 5633  Heiskell  St. 

Reckard,  Mrs.  William 6331  Oakland  Place. 

Reckard,  Viola 6331  Oakland  Place. 

Reckard,  Elsie 6331  Oakland  Place. 

Reckard,  Cora  Violet 5936  McCallum  St. 

Reeves,  Mrs.  Monroe 300  Ashmead  St. 

Reeves,  Mrs.  Charles  W 59  Maplewood  Ave. 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  293 


DATB 
OP 
ADMISSION  NAMB  ADDRESS 

1905.  Reeves,  Charles  Vernon 59  Maplewood  Ave. 

1907.  Reeves,  Helen  May 59  Maplewood  Ave. 

1903.  Reihl,  Charles  W St.  Joseph,  Mo. 

1903.  Reihl,  Mrs.  Charles  W St.  Joseph,  Mo. 

1908.  Reihl,  Alice  Topley St.  Joseph,  Mo. 

1909.  Remsen,  John  N 5450  Germantown  Ave. 

1909.  Remsen,  Mrs.  John  N 5450  Germantown  Ave. 

1909.   Remsen,  Mrs.  Sarah  E 5450  Germantown  Ave. 

1905.  Rennie,  Georgiana Reading,  Pa. 

1884.  Renouf,  Mrs.  Arthur 4842  Pulaski  Ave. 

1907.  Reynolds,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 5851  Osceola  St. 

1877.  Rhoades,  Mrs.  Samuel 5523  Bloyd  St. 

1901.  Rhodes,  Alice  Irene 118  E.  Price  St. 

1894.   Rich,  Mrs.  George 5321  Knox  St. 

1901.  Richie.  Robert  J 4910  Knox  St. 

1901.  Richie,  Mrs.  Robert  J 4910  Knox  St. 

1898.  Rickard,  Mrs.  George  W 942  Woodlawn  Ave. 

1902.  Ridgwell,  Mrs.  Mary 827  Woodlawn  Ave. 

1907.  Rigg,  Francis  N 406  E.  Walnut  Lane. 

1892.  Rigg,  Mrs.  Francis  N 406  E.  Walnut  Lane. 

1907.  Rigg,  Blanche  M 406  E.  Walnut  Lane. 

1900.  Riggs,  Mrs.  Mary 5649  Heiskell  St. 

1878.  Righter,  Annie  S 5842  Ba5mton  St. 

1880.  Ripley,  Mrs.  Joshua 453  Wister  St. 

1902.  Rippey,  Albert  P 132  E.  Washington  Lane. 

1902.  Rippey,  Mrs.  Albert  P 132  E.  Washington  Lane. 

1876.  Robbins,  Mrs.  Thomas 130  Pastorius  St. 

1908.  Robbins,  Samuel 130  Pastorius  St. 

1908.  Robbins,  William 130  Pastorius  St. 

1902.  Roberts,  Mrs.  Caroline  Henry Cynwyd,  Pa. 

1893.  Roberi:s,  Mrs.  Randall  H 49  E.  Walnut  Lane. 

1905.  Roberts,  Randall  H..  Jr 49  E.  Walnut  Lane. 

1902.  Roberts,  Amy  T 49  E.  Walnut  Lane. 

1904.  Roberts,  Helen  Jeanette 49  E.  Walnut  Lane. 

1905.  Roberts,  Mrs.  Samuel  T.,  Jr 304  E.  Walnut  Lane. 

1908.  Roberts,  Howard,  S.  2d 304  E.  Walnut  Lane. 

1909.  Roberts,  Ella  V 261  W.  Rittenhouse  St. 

1894.  Robinson,  Allen  R 404  E.  Walnut  Lane. 

1902.  Robinson,  George  E 404  E.  Walnut  Lane. 

1902.  Robinson,  Mrs.  George  E 404  E.  Walnut  Lane. 

1902.  Robinson,  Arthur  G 404  E.  Walunt  Lane. 

1907.  Robinson,  Louisa  S 404  E.  Walnut  Lane. 

1908.  Robinson,  John 404  E.  Wakiut  Lane. 

1887.  Robinson,  Mrs.  William  M 

1900.  Robinson,  Mrs.  Mary  E 4861  Anderson  St. 

1900.  Robinson,  Edwin  H 4861  Anderson  St. 

1903.  Robinson,  Mabel  Viola 4861  Anderson  St. 


294  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 


DATS 
OF 
ADMISSION  NAME  ADDRESS 

1893.  Robinson,  James 279  Tulpehocken  St. 

1895.  Robinson,  Mrs.  James 279  Tulpehocken  St. 

1903.  Robinson,  Mrs.  J.  H 3340  N.  Twenty-second  St. 

1900.   Rogers,  Mrs.  B.  Palmer Wissinoming,  Pa. 

1882.  Roop,  Samuel  H 60  W.  Haines  St. 

1873.  Roop,  Dr.  W.  Harvey 6000  Greene  St. 

1876.  Roop,  Mrs.  W.  Harvey 6000  Greene  St. 

1899.  Roop,  Henry  Rowland 6000  Greene  St. 

1879.  Rose,  John  H 6114  Beechwood  St. 

1889.  Rose,  Mrs.  Frank East  Wister  St.,  Wister  Station. 

1906.  Rose,  James  Francis East  Wister  St.,  Wister  Station. 

1902.  Rose,  Mrs.  Caroline  M 213  W.  Coulter  St. 

1904.  Rose,  Albert  Chatellier 213  W.  Coulter  St. 

1908.  Ross,  Katie  May Wyndmoor,  Chestnut  Hill. 

1880.  Roth,  Mrs.  Christina N.  Opal  St. 

1888.  Roth,  Casper,  Jr 5604  Bloyd  St. 

1904.  Roth  well,  Courtnay  R Pittsburg,  Pa. 

1904.  Rothwell,  Mrs.  Courtnay  R Pittsburg,  Pa. 

1896.  Rouillot,  Airs.  V.  B Mays  Landing,  N.  J. 

1868.  Royal,  Charlton,  H 5328  Baynton  St. 

1865.  Royal,  Mrs.  Charlton  H 5328  Baynton  St. 

1907.  Roylston,  Mabel 6230  Norwood  St. 

1888.  Salmons,  William 1308  N.  Tenth  St. 

1906.  Salzman,  Martha 254  LaSalle  Ave.,  Chicago,   111. 

1904.'  Sanson,  Frederick  B The  Greystone. 

1880.  Savin,  John  T 5837  Crittenden  St. 

1894.  Savin,  John  T.,  Jr 5837  Crittenden  St. 

1896.  Scaife,  Mrs.  Lillian  Hicks, 1028  E.  Chelten  Ave. 

1908.  Scarborough,  Henry  W 6412  Germantown  Ave. 

1908.  Scarborough,  Mrs.  Henry  W 6412  Germantown  Ave, 

1899.  Schaefer,  Mrs.  Clara Mesa,  Ariz. 

1898.  Schaefer,  Gertrude  M Mesa,  Ariz. 

1899.  Schaefer,  Emily Mesa,  Ariz. 

1902.  Schaefer,  Katharine  C.  M Mesa,  Ariz. 

1899.   Schaefer,  Francis  P 2122  Uber  St. 

1879.  Schaeffer,  Mrs.  William  Dougherty,  232  E.  Phil-Ellena  St. 

1906.  Schell,  Oswald  Hampton 5513  Morris  St. 

1906.  Schell,  Mrs.  Oswald  Hampton 5513  Morris  St. 

1906.  Schell,  Oswald  Hampton,  Jr 5513  Morris  St. 

1906.  Schell,  Dorothea 5513  Morris  St. 

1879.  Schlater,  Henry  L 409  E.  Penn  St. 

1903.  Schlater,  Mrs.  Henry  L 409  E.  Penn  St. 

1908.  Schlater,  Henrietta  V 409  E.  Penn  St.. 

1880.  Schlater,  Frederick  F 6028  Beechwood  St. 

1903.  Schlater,  Mrs.  Frederick  F 6028  Beechwood  St. 

1908.  Schlater,  Bertha  May 6028  Beechwood  St. 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  295 


DATS 
OP 
ADMISSION  NAME  ADDRESS 

1889.  Schlater,  Emma  L 42  E.  Haines  St. 

1885.  Schubert,  Samuel 2147  Medary  Ave. 

1877.  Schubert,  Mrs.  Samuel 2147  Medary  Ave. 

1899.  Schubert,  Samuel  J 2147  Medary  Ave. 

1904.  Schubert,  Mary 2147  Medary  Ave. 

1906.  Schubert,  Henry  Allison 2147  Medary  Ave. 

1888.  Schupard,  Mrs.  John Penna.  Institute,  Mt.  Airy. 

1884,  Schwartz,  Mrs.  Preston 6027  Morton  St. 

1908.  Schwartz,  Charles  M 6027  Morton  St. 

1909.  Schwartz,  Katherine  P 6027  Morton  St. 

1880.  Scott,  Mrs.  Caroline  D 6115  Germantown  Ave. 

1899.  Scott,  Charles  H Vineland,  N.  J. 

1899.  Scott,  Mrs.  Charles  H Vineland,  N.  J. 

1902.  Scott,  Dorothy  Logan Vineland,  N.  J. 

1899.  Scott,  William  McK Houtzdale,  Pa. 

1899.  Scott,  Anna  M Rosemont,  Pa. 

1899.  Scott,  Alexander  H Manchester,  N.  H. 

1903.  Scott,  Thornton  F.  B 54  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1903.  Scott,  Mrs.  Thornton  F.  B 54  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1905.  Scott,  Mrs.  Janette  R 54  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1903.  Scoville,  Mrs.  E.  Cornelia Presbyterian  Home. 

1906.  Sellers,  Walter  Alexander 4448  Greene  St. 

1902.  Selsor,  Mrs.  Isabella 58  E.  Seymour  St. 

1892.  Shapley,  Mary  Alice 434  Woodlawn  Ave. 

1894.  Sharp,  William  H Osceola  St.  above  Price  St. 

1890.  Sharpless,  Mrs.  John 5648  Chew  St. 

1885.  Sharpless,  William  C 300  School  Lane. 

1885,  Sharpless,  Mrs.  William  C 300  School  Lane. 

1899.  Shaw,  Howard  Wesley 5218  Marion  St. 

1892.  Shaw,  Mrs.  Howard  Wesley 5218  Marion  St. 

1905.  Shaw,  Lillie 5218  Marion  St. 

1904.  Shaw,  Ambrose  Herbert 331  Earlham  Terrace. 

1907.  Shaw,  Daniel  W.,  Jr 1357  E.  Price  St. 

1899.  Sheip,  Henry  H Oak  Lane  and  York  Road. 

1901.  Sheip,  Mrs.  Henry  H Oak  Lane  and  York  Road. 

1888.  Sheppard,  Franklin  L 229  Harvey  St. 

1888.  Sheppard,  Mary 229  Harvey  St. 

1893.  Sheppard,  Irene 229  Harvey  St. 

1894.  Sheppard,  Walter  Lee 229  Harvey  St. 

1894.  Sheppard,  Grace ; 303  Commerce  St.,  Dallas,  Texas. 

1872.  Sherman,  Mrs.  Ellen  J 146  E.  Duval  St. 

1898.  Sherman,  Mary 146  E.  Duval  St. 

1901.  Sherman,  Frank 146  E.  Duval  St. 

1908.  Sherman,  Mabel  D 146  E.  Duval  St. 

1908.  Shewell,  Rebekah  Austin 5334  Wayne  Ave. 

1908.  Shewell,  William  Irvin 5334  Wayne  Ave. 


296  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 


OF 
ADMISSION  NAMB  ADDRESS 

1901.  Shields,  Mary  A 121  Maplewood  Ave. 

1905.  Shillingford,  Henry  T Queen  Lane  west  of  Wissahickon  Ave. 

1905.  Shillingford,  Mrs.  Henry  T Queen  Lane  west  of  Wissahickon  Ave. 

1905.  Shillingford,  William  G Queen  Lane  west  of  Wissahickon  Ave. 

1876.  Shingle,  Mrs.  William 314  Queen  Lane. 

1905.  Shingle,  Gertrude 314  Queen  Lane. 

1908.  Shingle,  Margaret 314  Queen  Lane. 

1907.  Shore,  Ruby  E 34  W.  Duval  St. 

1895.  Shriver,  Mary  M 44  E.  Haines  St. 

1907.  Sibson,  Mrs.  W.  H 6070  Beechwood  St. 

1888.  Sidebottom,  William 5536  Wayne  Ave. 

1888.  Sidebottom,  Mrs.  William 5536  Wayne  Ave. 

1905.  Sidebottom,  Herbert  G 5536  Wayne  Ave. 

1894.  Sidebottom,  Walter 5832  Centre  Ave.,  Pittsburgh,  Pa. 

1901.  Simons,  John  F The  Greystone. 

1901.  Simons,  Mrs.  John  F The  Greystone. 

1901.  Simons,  Helen  B The  Greystone. 

1902.  Simons,  E.  Naudain 406  W.  Stafford  St. 

1902.  Simons,  Mrs.  E.  Naudain 406  W.  Stafford  St. 

1894.  Simpers,  William Germantown  Ave.  near  Hartwell  St. 

1901.  Simpers,  Annie  E 5620  Sprague  St. 

1899.  Simpers,  Clarence Fort  Schuyler,  N.  Y. 

1892.  Simpson,  Alexander 43 1  W.  Wyoming  Ave. 

1892.  Simpson,  Mrs.  Alexander 43 1  W.  Wyoming  Ave, 

1900.  Sketchley,  William,  Jr 426  School  Lane. 

1882.  Sketchley,  Mrs.  William,  Jr 426  School  Lane. 

1907.  Sketchley,  Rothwell  G 426  School  Lane. 

1894.  Sketchley,  William  W 7007  Boyer  St. 

1898.  Slayback,  Mrs.  John  D 416  Madison  Ave.,  New  York  City. 

1908.  Sloan,  Kenneth  Moir 261  Zeralda  St. 

1904.  Smalley,  Joseph,  Jr 90  E.  Haines  St. 

1888.  Smalley,  Mrs.  Joseph,  Jr 90  E.  Haines  St. 

1909.  Smiley,  Mrs.  Eliza 182  Manheim  St. 

1909.  Smiley,  Edith 182  Manheim  St. 

1890.  Smith,  Mae  E 6102  Baynton  St. 

1898.  Smith,  Harry  Foster 123  Mayland  St. 

1902.  Smith,  Dr.  George  Lewis 5538  Wayne  Ave. 

1892,  Smith,  Mrs.  George  Lewis 5538  Wayne  Ave. 

1891.  Snitzer,  Emma  L 5313  Belfield  Ave. 

1876.  Snitzer,  Elizabeth 5535  Pulaski  Ave. 

1903.  Snitzer,  Mrs.  Mary 52  Reger  St. 

1895.  Snyder,  Charles  M 73  High  St. 

1890.  Snyder,  Mrs.  Charles  M 73  High  St. 

1906.  Snyder,  Charles  Harding 73  High  St. 

1903.  Somerset,  Henry  Smith 5666  Morton  St. 

1894.  Somerset,  Mrs.  Henry  S 5666  Morton  St. 


IN    GERMANTOV/N.  297 


DATE 
OP 
ADMISSION  NAME  ADDRESS 

1888.  Sowby,  Mrs.  Katherine 7  Maplewood  Ave. 

1889.  Sowby,  Emily  M 7  Maplewood  Ave. 

1886.  Sowby,  Thomas  Thornton 1314  Narragansett  St. 

1891.  Sowby,  Mrs.  Thomas  Thornton 1314  Narragansett  St. 

1901.  Spalding,  Harry 5906  Mervine  St. 

1885.  Speese,  Carrie  D 331  E.  Chelten  Ave. 

1904.  Speese,  Donald 331  E.  Chelten  Ave. 

1900.  Speese,  Dr.  John 328  S.  Sixteenth  St. 

1888.  Speese,  George  K Oak  Lane,  Pa. 

1909.  Spencer,  Anna  V 143  W.  Coulter  St. 

1876.  Spiegel,  Eugene  F 164  Maplewood  Ave. 

1900.  Spiegel,  Mrs.  Eugene  F 164  Maplewood  Ave. 

1908.  Spiegel,  Charles  Eugene  A 164  Maplewood  Ave. 

1908.  Spiegel,  Charles  A 246  Harvey  St. 

1885.  Spiegel,  Mrs.  Charles  A 246  Harvey  St. 

1908.  Stambaugh,  Mrs.  Lillian  G 134  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1891.  Starin,  Henry  G 5118  Newhall  St. 

1891.  Starin,  Mrs.  Henry  G 5118  Newhall  St. 

1891.  Starin,  Helen  C 5118  Newhall  St. 

1891.  Starin,  Arthur  N 113  Springfield  Ave.,  Chestnut  Hill. 

1900.  Starin,  Mrs.  Arthur  N 113  Springfield  Ave.,  Chestnut  Hill. 

1880.  Stark,  Mrs.  Adam 5653  Chew  St. 

1902.  Stark,  Margaret 5653  Chew  St. 

1902.  Stark.  Mary 5653  Chew  St. 

1904.  Stark,  Matilda  Gordon 5653  Chew  St. 

1897.  Steen,  Elizabeth  M 3232  Diamond  St. 

1908.  Stevenson,  George  B 416  W.  Stafford  St. 

1908.  Stevenson,  Mrs.  George  B 416  W.  Stafford  St. 

1908.  Stevenson,  George,  2d 416  W.  Stafford  St. 

1907.  Stewart,  Emma  L 459  High  St. 

1904.  Stillwagon,  Mrs.  Bertha  L 5814  Wakefield  St. 

1904.  Stillwagon,  Ellen  F 5814  Wakefield  St. 

1891.  Stoer,  John  F 412  Manheim  St. 

1897.  Stone,  Theodore  W 106  E.  Washington  Lane. 

1897.  Stone,  Mrs.  Theodore  W 106  E.  Washington  Lane. 

1902.  Stone,  T.  Willard 106  E.  Washington  Lane. 

1892.  Stone,  Isabel  A 

1904.  Stout,  Clara  E 6322  Beechwood  St. 

1908.  Stout,  Frank  S 6322  Beechwood  St. 

1901.  Stout,  Mrs.  Archie 5645  Heiskell  St. 

1903.  Strassburger,  Mrs.  Katharine  M 135  E.  Duval  St. 

1908.  Strauch,  Mrs.  Helen  C 161  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1909.  Stroud,  William  H 39  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1909.  Stroud,  Mrs.  William  H 39  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1893.  Stuart,  Mrs.  James 119  W.  Haines  St. 

1908.  Stuart,  Margaretta  C 155  W.  Walnut  Lane. 

1900.  Studenmund,  Mrs.  Harry 6236  Beechwood  St. 


298  THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 


DATE 
OP 
ADMISSION  NAME  ADDRESS 

1902.  Sutcliffe,  Mary 200  E.  Johnson  St. 

1909.   Swank,  Harry  A 6329  Stenton  Ave. 

1903.  Swank,  Mrs.  Harry  A 6329  Stenton  Ave. 

1897.  Swartz,  Miss  M.  Alberta 6102  Baynton  St. 

1900.   Swartz,  Mrs.  Paul  A Post  City,  Texes. 

1893.  Swift,  Mrs.  Frank  B Shenandoah,  Pa. 

1900.  Symes,  James  Frisby 1335  Narragansett  Ave. 

1858.  Tarr,  Mrs.  George  W 100  Queen  St. 

1892.  Tarr,  William  M 59  Herman  St. 

1906.  Taussig,  Mrs.  Richard  A 6337  Greene  St. 

1906.  Taussig,  Grace  Anna 6337  Greene  St. 

1883.  Taylor,  Mrs.  Enoch 6138  Germantown  Ave. 

1890.  Taylor,  Mrs.  W.  M 1103  N.  Forty-second  St. 

1892.  Taylor,  Mrs.  William  T 420  Mechanic  St. 

1909.  Taylor,  Irene  E 420  Mechanic  St. 

1894.  Taylor,  Nellie  May 5666  Morton  St. 

1909.  Taylor,  Charles  T 5321  Wayne  Ave. 

1898.  Taylor,  Mrs.  Charles  T 5321  Wayne  Ave. 

1898.  Taylor,  Charles  K 5321  Wayne  Ave. 

1909.  Taylor,  Emily  C 5321  Wayne  Ave. 

1909.  Taylor,  H.  Birchard 214  Hortter  St. 

1909.  Taylor,  Mrs.  H.  Birchard 214  Hortter  St. 

1901.  Taylor,  Mrs.  Samuel 6038  Magnolia  Ave. 

1902.  Taylor,  Roberta  V 5524  Crowson  St. 

1905.  Tease,  Eliza  R Wissahickon  Ave.  and  School  Lane. 

1887.  Thomas,  Philip  J 5935  Wakefield  St. 

1898.  Thompson,  Mrs.  Samuel,  Jr 340  Wister  St. 

1901.  Thompson,  Harry  C 6218  Morton  St. 

1901.  Thompson,  Harry  C,  Jr 6218  Morton  St. 

1908.  Thompson,  Blanche  R 6218  Morton  St. 

1893.  Thornton,  Florence  L 278  W.  Rittenhouse  Si. 

1894.  Thorpe,  George 6328  Morton  St. 

1887.  Thorpe,  Mrs.  George 6328  Morton  St. 

1894.  Thorpe,  Edith  C 6328  Morton  St. 

1894.  Thorpe,  Vera  May 6328  Morton  St. 

1902.  Thorpe,  Chester  D 6328  Morton  St. 

1902.  Thorpe,  Carrie  L 6328  Morton  St. 

1902.  Tibbott,  Everard  F 439  W.  Price  St. 

1902.  Tibbott,  Mrs.  Everard  F 439  W.  Price  St. 

1900.  Tilge,  George  E 226  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1896.  Tilge,  Mrs.  George  E 226  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1900.  Tilge,  Helen 226  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1903.  Tilge,  Lewis  Henry 226  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1889.  Tinney,  Joseph 5532  Morton  St. 

1888.  Tinney,  Mrs.  Joseph 5532  Morton  St. 

1897.  Titus,  Theodore 5733  Wayne  Ave. 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  299 


DATE 
OF 
ADMISSION  NAUE  ADDRESS 

1897.  Titus,  Mrs.  Theodore 5733  Wayne  Ave. 

1897.  Titus,  Harry  L 5733  Wayne  Ave. 

1890.  Tomlinson,  Laura Stenton  Ave.  and  Spencer  St. 

1891.  Tomlinson,  Lottie Stenton  Ave,  and  Spencer  St. 

1895.  Tomlinson,  Mrs.  John Stenton  Ave.  and  Spencer  St. 

1894.  Tomlinson,  Bessie Stenton  Ave.  and  Spencer  St. 

1899.  Tomlinson,  John  W.,  Jr Stenton  Ave.  and  Spencer  St. 

1904.  Tomlinson,  Howell Stenton  Ave.  and  Spencer  St. 

1907.  Tomlinson,  Mrs.  Howell Stenton  Ave.  and  Spencer  St. 

1894.  Toon,  Mrs.  Thomas  H Potterton  Heights. 

1898.  Topley,  Mrs.  Gordon 149  Pomona  Terrace. 

1902.  Topley,  Thomas  Ross 40  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1895.  Townsend,  Herbert 5040  Wakefield  St. 

1906.  Townsend,  Mrs.  C.  Elmer 218  E.  Upsal  St. 

1901.  Tracy,  William  Bowers Oak  Lane  and  York  Road. 

1891.  Treichler,  Louis  A 5283  Germantown  Ave. 

1891.  Treichler,  Mrs.  Louis  A 5283  Germantown  Ave. 

1894.  Treichler,  W.  Claude 5283  Germantown  Ave. 

1906.  Trott,  Charles  P 257  W.  Rittenhouse  St. 

1887.  Trout,  Mrs.  Catherine  T 5834  Germantown  Ave. 

1901.  Truitt,  Mrs.  Joseph  P 5500  Wayne  Ave. 

1889    Tucker,  George Near  Queen  Lane  Station. 

1886.  Tucker,  Mrs.  George Near  Queen  Lane  Station. 

1907.  Tucker,  Henrietta Near  Queen  Lane  Station. 

1901.  Tull,  Mrs.  Maurice  L 5119  Marion  St. 

1907.  Turner,  Mrs.  Anna  C 6116  Beechwood  St. 

1903.  Turner,  Alice  Ashton 6116  Beechwood  St. 

1904.  Tuttle,  Mrs.  William  N 5016  Osage  Ave. 

1909.   UUum,  Mrs.  J.  S 24  Carpenter  St. 

1 884.  Vage,  John 

1882.  Vage,  Mrs.  John 

1902.  Vage,  Minnie  Helen 

1902.  Vail,  Mrs.  Susan  S 125  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1903.  Vail,  Charles  D 125  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1889.  Vanderslice,  Mrs.  T.  L Cresheim  Road,  St.  Martins. 

1894.  Vanderslice,  Daniel  W 

1901.  Van  Home,  J.  Harold 5372  Wingohocking  Terrace. 

1901.  Van  Home,  Mrs.  J.  Harold 5372  Wingohocking  Terrace. 

1897.  Vaughan,  Miriam Maine. 

1897.  Vaughan,  Helen Maine, 

1907.  Venables,  Mrs.  Sarah 6146  Lambert  St. 

1905.  Venables,  Mary 6146  Lambert  St. 

1908.  Venables,  Frederick  H 6146  Lambert  St. 

1909.  Venables.  Lily 6146  Lambert  St. 

1876.  Vogelsang,  Casper 219  Tabor  Road,  Olney. 

1880.  Vogelsang,  Albert  J 5616  Utah  St. 


300 


THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 


D\TB 
OP 
ADMISSIOK  NAME  ADDRESS 

1898.  Wagner,  Caroline 2019  N.  Twenty-second  St. 

1900.  Wagner,  Florence 72  E.  Garfield  St. 

1907.  Wagner,  Rose  May 124  E.  Phil-Ellena  St. 

1909.   Wagner,  George  G 453  High  St. 

1893.  Walbridge,  Caroline  C 136  Tulpehocken  St. 

1892.   Walker,  Sarah  Craig 6111  McCallum  St. 

1894.  Walker,  Mrs.  John 5907  McCallum  St. 

1907.  Walker,  Isabel  Fleming 5907  McCallum  St. 

1909.  Walker,  John  Isaac 5907  McCallum  St. 

1897.  Wallace,  H.  Agnew 226  Apsley  St. 

1886.  Wallace,  Mrs.  H.  Agnew 226  Apsley  St. 

1894.  Wallace,  Alfred  C 36  E.  Seymour  St. 

1894.  Wallace,  Mrs.  Alfred  C 36  E.  Seymour  St. 

1907.  Wallace,  Mrs.  Rebecca 27  W.  Willow  Grove  Ave. 

1904.  Walton,  Harry  Berry Glenside,  Pa. 

1904.   Walton,  Mrs.  Harry  Berry Glenside,  Pa. 

1906.   Wannop,  Thomas  Everitt 1256  Frazier  St. 

1906.   Wannop,  Mrs.  Thomas  Everitt 1256  Frazier  St. 

1904.  Warthman,  James  Harris 21  Pelham  Road. 

1904.   Warthman,  Mrs.  James  Harris 21  Pelham  Road. 

1890.   Waterstradt,  Lillian Eighteenth  St.  and  Sixty-fifth  Ave. 

Oak  Lane. 

1900.  Watkins,  Harvey  L 304  vShedaker  St. 

1900.  Watkins,  Mrs.  Harvey  L 304  Shedaker  St. 

1896.  Watkins,  Mrs.  iMary  S 182  W.  Price  St. 

1904.  Watkins,  Charles  Henry 182  W.  Price  St. 

1904.  Watkins,  Frank  OHver 182  W.  Price  St. 

1885.  Watson,  Mrs.  Harry 5312  Magnolia  Ave. 

1906.  Watson,  Rachel 105  E.  Haines  St. 

1898.  Watt,  Mrs.  Katherine  B 151  Maplewood  Ave. 

1904.  Watt,  Harry  Calvin 211  W.  Coulter  St. 

1909.  Watt,  Mary  Jane 167  Maplewood  Ave. 

1879.  Watts,  Mrs.  Harvey  B 176  E.  Stafford  St. 

1900.  Webb,  John  T 453  High  St. 

1881.  Webb,  Mrs.  John  T 453  High  St. 

1902.  Weber,  Carl 414  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1908.  Weber,  Mrs.  August 6353  Jefiferson  St. 

1892.  Weiss,  George  E 5444  Pulaski  Ave. 

1892.  Weiss,  Mrs.  George  E 5444  Pulaski  Ave. 

1880.  Weiss,  Charles  H 159  Maplewood  Ave. 

1880.  Weiss,  Mrs.  Charles  H 159  Maplewood  Ave. 

1904.  Weiss,  Charles  Robert 159  Maplewood  Ave. 

1895.  Welch,  Ashbel 426  W.  Stafford  St. 

1895.  Welch,  Mrs.  Asbhel 426  W.  Stafford  St. 

1895.  Welch,  Ashbel  R Haworth,  Bergen  Co.,  N.  J. 

1903.  Wenborg,  Mrs.  Charles 5633  Heiskell  St. 


IN    GERMANTOWN.  301 


DATE 
OF 
ADMISSION  NAME  ADDRESS 

1904.  West,  Mortimer,  Jr 527  Hansberry  St, 

1904.  West,  Mrs.  Mortimer,  Jr 527  Hansberry  St. 

1890.  Wheitzel,  Mrs.  Antoinette  M 6325  Beechwood  St. 

1885.  White,  Mrs.  Clement  A 159  E.  47th  St.,  Chicago,  111. 

1880.  White,  Mrs.  Wilham  J 406  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1898.  White,  Blanche  Warrington 406  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1905.  White,  Florence  W 406  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1892.  White,  Annie  J 1950  Venango  St. 

1901.  White,  Eliza  Frances 32  Collom  St. 

1900.  White,  Mrs.  Andrew  R 2912  N.  Franklin  St. 

1906.  White,  George  Theophilus 5949  Beechwood  St. 

1874.  Whitesides,  Mrs.  Edward  G 165  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1888.  Whitesides,  John  G 165  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1904.  Wicke,  Matilda 224  Church  Lane. 

1904.  Wicke,  Victoria  H 224  Church  Lane. 

1906.  Wignall,  Mrs.  Emily  A 306  Somerville  Ave.,  Olney. 

1903.  Wignall,  Ethel 306  Somerville  Ave.,  Olney. 

1908.  Wignall,  Herbert 306  Somerville  Ave.,  Olney 

1901.  Wilckins,  Ida  G 

1907.  Wilcox,  Edith  Dwyer, 5825  Knox  St. 

1891.  Wilkinson,  Helen  E 431  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1906.  Wilkinson,  Ethel  Warhurst 833  Church  Lane. 

1906.  Wilkinson,  Blanche  M 833  Church  Lane. 

1906.  Wilkinson,  Mabel  G 833  Church  Lane. 

1880.  Williams,  Mrs.  Mosely  H 29  W.  Walnut  Lane. 

1886.  Williams,  Margaret  B 29  W.  Walnut  Lane. 

1900.  Williams,  Ethel  Lillian 29  W.  Walnut  Lane. 

1896.  Williams,  Mrs.  Carlton  M 456  Locust  Ave. 

1896.  Williams,  Carlton  M 456  Locust  Ave.' 

1896.  WiUiams,  Elsie  M 456  Locust  Ave. 

1902.  Williams,  Antoinette  C 456  Locust  Ave. 

1907.  Williams,  Dorothy  B 456  Locust  Ave. 

1901.  WiUiams,  Alfred,  Jr 1211  Eleventh  Av.,SanFrancisco,CaI. 

1901.  William,  George  W 2140  Medary  Ave. 

1893.  Williams,  Mrs.  George  W 2140  Medary  Ave. 

1901.  Williams,  Mary  Johanna 5419  Germantown  Ave. 

1899.  Williams,  Mrs.  David  W 1504  Myrtlewood  Ave. 

1905.  Williams,  Dr.  Carl Germantown  Ave.,  above  Haines  St. 

1905.  Williams,  Mrs.  Carl Germantown  Ave.,  above  Haines  St. 

1867.  Wilson,  Miss  Julia  A 222  Harvey  St. 

1907.  Wilson,  John  H 130  E.  Washington  Lane. 

1898.  Wilson,  Mrs.  John  H 130  E.  Washington  Lane. 

1902.  Wilson,  William  Arthur 8114  Roanoke  St. 

1902.  Wilson,  Mrs.  William  A 8114  Roanoke  St. 

1901.  Winner,  Mrs.  E.  R Wissahickon  Ave. 

1897.  Wistar,  Mrs.  Thomas,  Jr 166  School  Lane. 


302       THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH    IN    GERMANTOWN. 


DATB 
OP 
AOUISSION  NAME  ADDRESS 

1877.  Wister,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  W 53  E.  Logan  St. 

1902.  Wolf,  Samuel  K 6026  Magnolia  Ave. 

1902.  Wolf,  Mrs.  Samuel  K 6026  Magnolia  Ave. 

1902.  Wolf,  Salome  J 6026  Magnolia  Ave. 

1889.  Wolfer,  Emma 165  E.  Chelten  Ave. 

1874.  Woods.  Wilson 271  Harvey  St. 

1882.  Woods,  Mrs.  Wilson 271  Harvey  St. 

1906.  Woods,  Samuel  N 271  Harvey  St. 

1908.  Woods,  Elizabeth 271  Harvey  St. 

1905.  Woods,  Mrs.  Anna 83  7  Church  Lane. 

1905.  Woods,  Robert  Evans 115  W.  Haines  St. 

1904.  Woods,  Mrs.  Robert  Evans 115  W.  Haines  St. 

1900.  Woodward,  William  W 4542  Wayne  Ave. 

1900.  Woodward,  Mrs.  William  W 4542  Wayne  Ave. 

1900.  Woodward,  William  W.,  Jr 168  E.  Willow  Grove  Ave. 

1900.  Woodward,  Mrs.  William  W.,  Jr. .  .  168  E.  Willow  Grove  Ave. 

1880.  Worthington,  Samuel   849  E.  Chelten  Ave. 

1887.  Worthington,  Mrs.  Samuel 849  E.  Chelten  Ave. 

1902.  Worthington,  Emma 849  E.  Chelten  Ave. 

1904.  Worthington,  Esther 849  E.  Chelten  Ave. 

1905.  Worthington,  Elizabeth 849  E.  Chelten  Ave. 

1904.  Wright,  Katherine  L 2351  N.  Nineteenth  St. 

1904.  Wright,  Mrs.  Henry  C 5632  Boyer  St. 

1908.  Yeagle,  Annie  Floyd 1103  E.  Chelten  Ave. 

1884.  Yerkes,  Mrs.  Theodore 210  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1894.   Yerkes,  Albert  J 210  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1887.   Yerkes,  Emily  R 210  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1889.  Yerkes,  Eleanor  L 210  W.  Chelten  Ave. 

1898.   Yocum.  Mrs.  Henrietta 115  W.  Haines  St. 

1897.   Young,  Boyd School  Lane  and  Wissahickon  Ave. 

1897.   Young,  Mrs.  Boyd School  Lane  and  Wissahickon  Ave. 

1903.  Yoimg,  Martha  M School  Lane  and  Wissahickon  Ave 

1894.  Young,  William  R 249  Harvey  St. 

1894.  Young,  Mrs.  William  R 249  Harvey  St. 

1903.  Yoimg,  Alan  S 249  Harvey  St. 

1897.  YoTong,  Mrs.  Hugh Thorpe's  Lane. 

1903.  Young,  Mrs.  Charles 5525  Morris  St. 

1894.  Zell,  Mrs.  Warren  D 22  Maplewood  Ave. 

Note. — The   addresses  given  in  the   foregoing  list   are    those  last 
known  to  the  officers  of  the  Church. 


14803TJ  12! 

LBC 

03-06-03  32180 


Princeton  Theological   Seminary  Ubraries 


1    1012  01354  4798 


